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Plan Commission approves parking determination, conditions for Assyrian National Council site at 3941 Oakton
Summary
The Skokie Plan Commission approved a parking determination and recommended conditions for a special-use permit allowing the Assyrian National Council’s civic, social and fraternal use at 3941 Oakton Street, including a 56-seat cap, on-site parking controls, and a 10:00 p.m. cutoff for events; the special use still requires Village Board approval.
The Skokie Plan Commission voted to approve a parking determination and accept staff’s recommended conditions for a special-use permit for the Assyrian National Council’s facility at 3941 Oakton Street.
Planner Mike Wojtek told commissioners that the site previously held a special-use permit issued in 2014 that lapsed after COVID-related closures and that the petitioners reopened the facility in July 2022. Staff recommended the commission set the off-street parking requirement at 14 vehicle spaces (based on 56 seats) and one bicycle parking space, and recommended relief to allow nine off-street spaces because the organization operates a shuttle service and on-street parking is planned for Oakton Street in 2026.
Wojtek said the building offers four front parking spaces (one accessible) and five alley spaces; staff recommended restoration of landscaping, stripe and cross-hatching to create a no-parking apron behind the building, and other conditions to reduce spillover into neighboring alleys. He said the petitioners had resumed the same activities they ran before 2020 and that the kitchen at the site is used only to serve food catered from the organization's larger banquet facility at 9131 Nile Center Road.
Petitioners Steve Marrano and Anthony Yosef described programming that includes weekday senior services and occasional weekend events. Marrano said the organization typically staffs events ("We have at least 1 manager on duty"), runs a shuttle service from the main banquet facility and would install physical measures such as parking curbs and signs and share a contact number with neighbors to address conflicts.
Neighbors who spoke and correspondence on file flagged overtime events, tandem parking in the alley that can obstruct garage access, and concerns about dumpster overflow during larger events. Wojtek and commissioners said obstruction into the alley can be enforced as an actionable offense (ticketable by police when it blocks access) and that building-code or zoning enforcement would address private-property violations. The petitioner agreed to a 10:00 p.m. end time for events and to take steps to limit double-parking and alley obstruction.
Commissioner Jeff Berman moved to accept staff’s report with the conditions added during discussion — including the seating limit, a 10:00 p.m. activity cutoff, striping/no-parking cross-hatching and installation of wheel chaps/parking curbs in the rear — and the commission approved the motion. The commission separately adopted the parking determination by roll call (all commissioners recorded 'aye'). Wojtek noted the special-use approval will still need final action by the Village Board of Trustees; the parking determination is the commission’s final decision.
The commission also directed staff and the petitioners to monitor neighborhood impacts and recommended that neighbors use the petitioner’s provided contact and report any obstruction to the village if cars extend into the alley.
