North Cook News

The city of Evanston Design & Project Review Committee met Jan. 11 to grant a special use permit for a micro-distillery.

Here is the meeting's agenda, as provided by the committee: 

DESIGN AND PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE (DAPR) MINUTES

January 11, 2017

Voting Members Present: M. Muenzer, I. Eckersberg, J. Nelson, M. Tristan, G.

Gerdes, S. Mangum, P. Zalmezak, L. Biggs, M. Klotz,

M. Jones

Staff Present:

Others Present:

Presiding Member: M. Muenzer

A quorum being present, M. Muenzer called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm.

New Business:

1) 600 Main Street (Metra Station) Recommendation to ZBA

Walter Clements, lessee, submits for a special use permit for a Micro-Distillery (winemixing)

in the B2 Business District and oDM Dempster-Main Overlay District.

PRESENTED BY: Walter Clements, Lessee

DISCUSSION:

The business will operate under a craft winery liquor license, preparing wine in bulk

and repackaging it for wholesale and retail.

Retail wine will be sold in a reusable and sustainable format for consumption. A

tasting room will also sell wine by the glass.

The wholesale operation will include preservation tanks to store wine and facilitate

mixing.

Truck deliveries will occur monthly to start, and then likely occur no more than twice

weekly. Delivery times will be coordinated to minimize impact on pedestrian and

train rush commute.

Hours of operation will be 3pm to 10pm on weeknights, and 3pm to 11pm on

weekends.

There will be one staff member when the business opens.

There are six parking spots at the building, including three ADA accessible spots.

Union Pacific owns the entire property, including the alleyway, which could be

converted into a seating area. Any seating area would be planned with pedestrian

accessibility or traffic issues in mind.

Exterior changes will include an architecturally appropriate overhead door to

facilitate delivery.

APPROVED

Construction could occur in phases, separating preparation of the wholesale area

from the retail, tasting room, and outdoor seating areas. The committee clarified that

applicant should present plans that include all phases of construction for ZBA

meeting.

Mr. Gerdes asked whether the six parking spots at the property are also counted

with adjacent Union Pacific parking used by commuters for ADA accessibility. The

applicant will speak with Union Pacific about this prior to converting any ADA

accessible parking into standard parking spots.

The applicant stated that distribution will be handled by third party vehicles.

Ms. Eckersberg asked whether second floor uses would be included. The applicant

is working with Union Pacific on a plan for second floor uses. The committee clarified

that adding second floor use in the future could potentially result in a new special

use permit depending on the scope of the use on that floor.

Mr. Gerdes moved to recommend approval to ZBA, seconded by Ms. Biggs. The

committee voted unanimously 10-0 to recommend approval to ZBA.

Other Business:

Approval of the January 4, 2017 meeting minutes.

Ms. Biggs moved to approve the minutes from January 4, 2017, seconded by Mr.

Nelson.

The Committee voted unanimously, 9-0, with one abstention, to approve the

minutes of the January 4, 2017 DAPR meeting.

Adjournment:

Ms. Biggs moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Mangum.

The meeting adjourned at 3:11 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Nicholas Zettel