Petitioners seek sign, fence and covered patio changes for 41 Degree North Tavern; pergola may require sprinklers

Silken Patel and Shivanki Patel, petitioners and proprietors of 41 Degree North Tavern at 8101 Wicker Avenue, told the Schererville Town Plan Commission during its Aug. 18 study session that they opened the bar in early August and are seeking approval for a new sign, a fence around a pond-side porch area and a covered (parapet-style) patio.

The petitioners said the existing sign had been removed because it was in poor condition and they want to replace it with a sign that conforms to the town’s ordinances. "We took over the property about 3 or 4 months ago," Silken Patel said. The applicants said the new sign could include an LED message board and that the sign dimensions, including base, would be up to 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide, which they said meets the sign ordinance.

Commissioners and applicants also discussed a fence that would block customer access from the parking lot toward the pond and would route patrons through the front entrance for hosts to monitor ins and outs. The petitioners said the fence would run from the porch toward the first tree area near the pond, not to the property line, and that it would address safety and ATC requirements for monitoring entry.

The discussion over the patio focused on whether the proposed retractable, glass-enclosed pergola-style roof would trigger fire-safety requirements. The applicants said the design is intended to slide open in good weather and close in poor weather. "If that was able to be closed fully, that would most likely need to be sprinkled," a commissioner observed; the petitioners said they are already working with the fire department and an engineer to determine requirements.

Commissioners indicated no objections in principle to the sign and the fence and advised the petitioners to coordinate with the fire department and their engineer about sprinkler requirements for the enclosed patio. The petitioners said they are ready for a public hearing and that they can appear at the Sept. 8 meeting.

The plan commission did not take a formal vote during the study session; commissioners and applicants agreed to pursue administrative review steps and for the applicants to return at the public hearing with any additional information, including fire-department guidance for the patio and final sign and fence details.

Details to be provided at the public hearing include final sign dimensions and specifications, engineered plans for the patio, and any fire-sprinkler design if the enclosure is determined to be fully closable.