The Rockford City Council on Jan. 6 approved several Code and Regulation Committee items affecting development and land use.

Actions taken included approval of Plat No. 2 of the Sports Factory Subdivision (city-owned parcels re-platted under a development agreement with Emerson Development); a modification of an existing liquor license to allow an additional video gaming terminal at 3301 Eleventh Street (approved on a 10–2 vote); a special-use permit for a planned-unit development at 2930 Grenell Court and the adjacent South Alpine Road parcels to allow multiple townhome units (approved on an 11–1 roll call with one abstention); and a variation to increase a landmark-style sign at 839 North Perryville Road from 8 feet to 12 feet and to raise the permitted sign area from 64 to 115 square feet (approved unanimously where recorded).

Alderman Meeks asked whether the attorney for the project could provide unit pricing; Jim Rodriguez, the attorney present, said he did not have those numbers. City staff (Mister Cagnoni) clarified the Sports Factory plat: "the city of Rockford owns these parcels. It's 1 lot that's being planted into 2 lots so that it creates a separate lot for the former watch factory as part of the development agreement with Emerson Development." The legal director was asked to prepare the appropriate ordinances following the council approvals.

Vote summary (as announced by the clerk during the meeting): Sports Factory plat — 12 ayes; liquor-license modification (video gaming) — 10 ayes, 2 nays; PUD special-use permit (2930 Grenell Court / S Alpine) — 11 ayes, 1 abstain; Perryville sign variation — 12 ayes.

Where recorded, the zoning board of appeals had recommended approval of the PUD and the sign variation; council moves directed the legal director to draft the ordinances needed to formalize the approvals.