Restaurants serving craft beers and specialty liquor and wines could find Tinley Park’s downtown a lot friendlier, thanks to proposed changes in village ordinances and liquor licensing.
The Plan Commission on Thursday endorsed amendments to the planning and zoning ordinances to permit the sale of such alcohol in the downtown area, a two-mile stretch of Oak Park Avenue.
The changes are intended to encourage restaurants that would sell limited-production, locally made beer, wine and spirits, while also preventing more package liquor stores downtown.
Plan commissioners made their recommendation to the Village Board, which will have the final decision, two days after the village’s Main Street Commission also supported the proposals.
Village trustees are also looking into creating a new liquor license that would apply to such businesses, Planning Director Amy Connolly said.
At Thursday’s commission meeting, Deputy Planning Director Paula Wallrich stressed the growing popularity of brew pubs and restaurants that make their own wine.
“This is a trend that has caught on, and we would certainly like to take advantage of that downtown,” she said.
Wallrich, who was previously Homewood’s community development director, has cited Grape and Grain in that village’s downtown as the kind of business that would work well along Oak Park Avenue. In its third year, the store sells beer and wine and provides beverage service via a tasting room.
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Wallrich acknowledged that Tinley Park now allows special-use permits for wineries and brew pubs on Oak Park Avenue, though none are located there.
The amendments, she said, are intended to communicate “a clear message,” adding add some conditions related to waste-product discharge and odors, and clarifying “on-site consumption.”
Also Thursday, the Plan Commission refused to support adding a fitness center’s name to Tinley Park Plaza’s main sign in the 15900 block of Harlem Avenue.
A shopping center representative had argued that Planet Fitness, expected to open in January, had signed its lease assuming that its name would appear on the last available panel.
But commission Chairman Rita Walker said additional tenants can’t be added because the main sign no longer complies with the village sign ordinance but remains grandfathered in.
“This is the only way the village can control (Tinley Park Plaza signage) and make things better,” Walker said, terming the overall appearance of the main sign “dated.”
Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter.