Wilmette trustees on March 8 approved zoning permissions that will allow a downtown retailer to move his barbecue and grill business into larger nearby quarters, where he plans to install an outdoor sales area and operate a three-barrel beer brewery.
Dan Marguerite, whose Backyard Barbecue Store has operated at 1147 Greenleaf Ave. for 12 years, plans to move west to an empty car wash building at 535 Green Bay Road.
The board spent more than three hours on the case, listening to residents who complained – often heatedly — about the potential for increased traffic and drinking-related problems if Marguerite got the approvals he sought. Nine neighbors spoke against the request, saying they feared it would cause more traffic and parking on already congested streets and alleys near their homes.
Even as board members approved the requests, they urged residents to work with village staff to tackle the traffic woes.
“Not having Mr. Marguerite’s business (here) is not going to make your traffic problems better,” Village President Bob Bielinski said. “Having it there is not going to make it dramatically worse, either.”
Trustees, who also heard three people speak in favor of Marguerite’s plan, said his history of good neighbor relations and quiet operations at his current store bodes well for operations at his new location. Trustees suggested the neighbors’ fears that the brewing operation, described as a “brew pub” in the zoning code, would lead to loud late night parties and disruption from grilling classes and private parties Marguerite caters at the store, were groundless.
“This seems to be fear of the unknown,” Trustee Ted McKenna said.
“This sort of got spun, in my opinion, out of control,” Trustee Daniel Sullivan said. “This is not a brew pub like Goose Island.”
In the end, trustees granted Marguerite a special use permit to allow the brewing operation at that location, although he must still get a special liquor license to supplement his current liquor license. He also won a zoning variation that will allow him to build a permanent outdoor grilling station next to his new store for grilling classes and retail sales.
The board’s judiciary committee will consider his brewing liquor license on April 12.
Marguerite said his business is largely retail, and much of the 5,000 square feet on Green Bay Road will still be permanent displays of outdoor grills and related grilling equipment. But the bigger building means he will be able to run classes and cater parties without having to move displays as he does now, he said. He estimated about 10 percent of his business comprises classes or catered parties of no more than 40 people, and most are smaller. He said he had 82 events in 2015 and hopes to see that number grow.
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Marguerite said at full capacity, the brewing operation would generate 175 barrels of beer a year, and operate perhaps two days a week. He said he plans to operate it only when he requires beer for events; the beer would also be available at a 10-seat tasting bar. The building would have seating for 24 more people for classes or dinners. He also said the new property would have nine parking spaces, while his current building has no parking lot.
Although the property is zoned commercial, it is near residentially-zoned homes on the 400 and 500 blocks of Park Avenue to the southwest, and the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Linden Avenue to the southeast. About 15 of those neighbors attended the meeting. Those who spoke asked the board to reject the request, or to delay approval until trustees and residents could review it further.
Some, like Park Avenue resident Kate Thomas, said they didn’t necessarily oppose Marguerite’s business. Instead, they worried that traffic from the building, which is set well back from Green Bay, essentially behind a Green Bay Road restaurant, would overload two alleys connecting to Green Bay and Wilmette Avenue.
Other neighbors said they were equally worried about noise, drinking, and potential alcohol-fueled bad behavior. Although Bielinski and Village Counsel Michael Zimmerman said the “brew pub” label is simply Wilmette zoning parlance for a business permitted to brew on site, some residents were unconvinced.
“I hear ‘brew pub,’ I think drinking,” Linden Avenue resident Michelle Salama said.
It was important to separate Marguerite’s business from the traffic problems around his proposed site, Bielinski said, urging neighbors to get in touch with Assistant Village Manager Michael Braiman to set up a meeting with village staff to review congestion issues. Braiman said March 10 that he and neighbors are in contact and a meeting is being organized.
Before the board voted, Trustee Senta Plunkett said Marguerite already sells beer and wine at his events without reported problems from his current neighbors. He could open a restaurant with outdoor seating without even needing special permission, she added.
“We wouldn’t be here until 11 p.m. if we didn’t understand your concerns,” she said. “But I think safety would be increased by having a reputable business here” rather than an empty building.
Twitter: @pioneer_kathy