CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance approving a variance from Section 3-3-11 to issue a Class D - Package Store liquor license to Shree Balchandra 2 LLC d/b/a AJ's Liquorland for the business located at 1474 East Chicago Avenue.
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DEPARTMENT: Legal Department
SUBMITTED BY: Sabrina Spano, Deputy City Attorney
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
On August 8, 2024, the Liquor Commission unanimously recommended to Council that AJ's Liquorland's request for a variance be granted.
BACKGROUND:
Solo Liquors is a package liquor store located at 1474 East Chicago Avenue.
Class D - Package Store licenses are generally located in large shopping centers unless they are grandfathered in as having been established prior to regulations that contain square footage limitations.
Solo Liquors has a Class D - Package Store license that requires that it be in a shopping center containing at least 60,000 square feet. Because it was grandfathered in, Solo Liquors is currently in a shopping center of less than 60,000 square feet.
Recently, the City was contacted by Aadi Patel (Shree Balchandra 2 LLC d/b/a AJ's Liquorland) who is seeking to acquire and purchase Solo Liquors. After speaking with staff, Shree Balchandra 2 LLC submitted a variance petition to the square footage requirements so that Class D - Package Store may continue to operate at 1474 East Chicago Avenue to the Liquor Commission. Please see a copy of the variance petition (attached hereto as Exhibit A) and Liquor Commission Minutes (attached hereto as Exhibit B).
Mayor Wehrli (as Liquor Commissioner) recommends approval of the requested variance.
DISCUSSION:
On September 6, 2016, the City Council approved repealing and replacing Chapter 3 (Liquor and Tobacco Control) in its entirety. The new chapter created a procedure for processing variances to liquor license requirements and set forth the following factors for consideration of a variance:
1. The variance is in harmony with t...
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