ST. CHARLES – Aldermen as well as neighbors are voicing concerns about a proposal to add a drive-through to a liquor store in St. Charles.
At the City Council's Planning and Development Committee meeting on Monday, the majority of aldermen voiced their objections to the plan. Andy Patel wants to add drive-through service to Mr. A's Prairie Liquor and Wine, located at 1401 Prairie St.
A liquor store has operated at the property for a number of years. In 2016, the use became nonconforming after aldermen limited liquor and tobacco stores to operating along Main Street, Randall Road and Kirk Road. Patel also is requesting an amendment to the city's code that would permit the liquor store at that location and allow Patel to seek approval of a special use for a drive-through facility.
At the meeting, the majority of aldermen said they were against the plans.
"As a 5th Ward alderman, and this is where it sits, in the 5th Ward, I'm passionate about protecting our neighborhoods and the residents in the neighborhood," 5th Ward Alderman Maureen Lewis said.
Lewis said she has talked to several residents in that neighborhood who are not in favor of the proposed drive-through.
"They understand there's always been a liquor store there," she said. "They accept that."
She was among several aldermen who don't want to change the city's code to accommodate the proposal. In addition, Mitch and Ginny Novak, who live on South 14th Street, wrote a letter to city officials voicing their concerns.
"We have concerns about added crime and traffic in the area," the letter states. "This proposed drive thru liquor store would be an additional burden on our police force and the all ready high volume traffic on Prairie Street. We are residents of this neighborhood for 32 years. We have seen a lot of negative impact on the neighborhood."
Attorney Kate McCracken, who is representing Patel, told aldermen the drive-through would greatly improve the corner, such as through the addition of landscaping and possibly a fence to buffer nearby houses.
"This use will be, and will continue to be, a nonconforming use," McCracken said. "The use isn't changing. While I recognize that there's some concern about an expansion to the nonconforming use, I'm not necessarily convinced that this constitutes an expansion. To the extent that I believe that all of us are in the midst of what is ultimately going to be some significant changes as a result of the pandemic. One of those changes is touchless retail. Anytime that we can provide touchless retail as we're going forward, I think it's going to be both a health and safety improvement."
Fourth Ward Alderman Lora Vitek said she could go along with the proposal.
"We are going to have to be open to things we never considered before the pandemic," Vitek said. "And there are going to be a lot of people that will want to do drive-through for whatever purpose, health, safety or just preference."