Plan Commission recommends approval for indoor soccer facility and restaurant at former Crystal Bowling Lanes

The Crest Hill Plan Commission on April 9 unanimously recommended the city council conditionally approve George Cruz’s special-use and sign-variance petitions to convert the vacant Crystal Bowling Lanes at 905 Theodore Street into an indoor soccer facility with an accompanying restaurant.

City planner Atifa told the commission the adaptive-reuse project would add two indoor fields, a concession/restaurant space and supporting repairs to the parking lot and building. Staff said the proposal includes a freestanding sign variance (increase from 50 to 89 square feet), a digital-sign area increase (20 to 54 square feet), a sign-height increase (15 to 21 feet) and a reduced setback (10 feet to 3 feet). Staff recommended conditional approval of SU-26-3-4-1 and V-26-3-4-1 subject to six conditions in the April 9 staff report.

Cruz, who said his family has been Crest Hill residents since 2005 and has operated a small Playtime Soccer location at Hillrest Shopping Center, described plans for two full interior fields, locker and bench areas, live-streaming screens for the restaurant, staffing estimates (about 10–15 workers for the soccer facility and 6–10 for the restaurant) and a target opening in late summer. Planner and applicant said the soccer facility hours are proposed as Monday–Sunday 9 a.m.–12 a.m. and the restaurant hours Monday–Sunday 7 a.m.–11 p.m.; total building occupancy would be limited to 200 people and the facility would not operate as a banquet or special-ticketed event venue.

Nearby residents who spoke supported returning the long-vacant property to active use but raised concerns about late-night bar patrons and litter, citing past problems when a bar operated at the site. Economic-development consultant Ron Meer and other staff noted the mayor — who also acts as liquor commissioner — has indicated the city would expect a restaurant liquor license rather than a bar license; that distinction carries different licensing rules and enforcement options. Meer said a restaurant license is intended to allow alcohol service in conjunction with food and is less likely to enable a destination drinking establishment; he also described enforcement tools including license revocation.

Commissioners spent considerable time discussing closing hours, whether alcohol service should stop before final closing, and the proposed sign wording (some members objected to the inclusion of the phrase “sports bar” on the proposed sign if the operation is to be licensed and regulated as a restaurant). Several commissioners proposed aligning the soccer hours with the restaurant hours (11 p.m.) as a compromise, though the commission left final licensing decisions to the city council and the liquor commissioner. The commission voted unanimously to recommend conditional approval with the six staff conditions and will forward the recommendation to the city council workshop April 27; the council is scheduled to vote on May 4.