Prospect Heights council approves Baltic House special use, Flood Brothers extension and other routine measures

The Prospect Heights City Council on a unanimous roll call approved a set of routine items that included a special-use permit for a new sit-down restaurant, a one-year extension of the city’s garbage collection contract, a supplemental engineering agreement for a stormwater project and a minor amendment to permitted uses at Prospect Crossing shopping center.

Alderman Anderson moved and Alderman Morgan Adams seconded approval of the special-use permit (ordinance O2612) for Baltic House, to occupy the former Pizza Pavia space at 6 North Elmhurst Road; council approved the second reading by unanimous roll call. Dan, speaking for the city, said the proprietors — Peter and Isabella — submitted a full application, proposed mainly cosmetic interior changes and had unanimous support from the Plan Commission (PCBA). “They are ready to move forward,” Dan said during the presentation.

The council also received a first-reading, no-action item on a liquor-license increase that would raise the number of full liquor licenses from eight to nine to serve the new restaurant; that matter will return for action at the June 22 meeting.

On waste services, the council approved resolution R2623 to extend the city’s contract with Flood Brothers, Inc. for one year beginning July 1. Peter told the council the extension would carry “a zero % increase for our residential services,” while commercial accounts would see a 3% increase. Council approved the resolution by roll call.

The council approved resolution R2625 to add a $16,000 supplemental engineering agreement with Ewalt Hamilton Associates for the Willow Trail stormwater project, a $3.2 million project staff said is funded largely by grants. Staff said unanticipated utility relocations delayed construction and drove the need for additional engineering work; the additional fee was described as keeping the project on schedule.

Council also approved R2626 to amend the Prospect Crossing shopping center permitted uses to allow a tattoo parlor at 127 North Rand Road. Manny Rafidi, owner of Prospect Crossing, said the available space is about 5,000 square feet and that the tenant would agree to the Rand Road retail corridor’s 1.5% service tax on tattoo services in addition to standard sales taxes.

Other routine items that passed by unanimous roll call included R2624 (official intent to reimburse certain capital expenditures, including equipment purchases, from future bond proceeds) and approval of the city’s warrants and payroll.

The council’s votes were largely procedural and unanimous; no substantive public comments on agenda items were recorded. The meeting adjourned after routine business and announcements about a June 20 community block party at the Gary Morava Center.

What’s next: The Baltic House liquor-license item will return for action at the June 22 meeting, and the council said it expects continued work on the Willow Trail project and follow-up as contract and bond work proceed.