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Concur with the Liquor Control Review Board and Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 (“Alcoholic Liquor Dealers”), Article 1 (“General Provisions”), Section 3-1-1 (“Definitions”); Article 4 (“Term and Classification”), Section 3-4-2 (“Classification and Number of Liquor Licenses and Fees”); and Article 8 (“List of Licenses for Each License Class”), Section 3-8-1 (“Number of Licenses Permitted to be Issued Per License Class”) and Section 3-8-2 (“Licenses by Name and Address Per License”) of the Oak Park Village Code for the Issuance of an Arts and Crafts Establishment Class D-19 Liquor License to Fat Cat Art Gallery
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Introduction
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The proposed Ordinance grants an Arts and Crafts Establishment Class D-19 Liquor License to Fat Cat Art Gallery.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Ordinance.
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
Fat Cat Art Gallery (“Fat Cat”) seeks an Arts and Crafts Establishment D-19 liquor license for the premises located at 19 Harrison Street. Fat Cat plans to serve alcoholic liquor at art shows and paint & sip events at the gallery.
The Village currently has an Arts and Crafts Establishment D-19 liquor license classification, which needs to be amended to incorporate Fat Cat’s proposed business model of holding art and craft shows as part of the classification.
The proposed ordinance adds “gallery openings or art and craft shows” as activities allowed under the Arts and Crafts Establishment D-19 classification. The Class D-19 classification would permit a licensee to offer for sale or provide beer, wine, and champagne at gallery openings or art and craft shows. The classification requires that licensees make food available for purchase at all times when beer, wine, and champagne are sold or provided. A Class D-19 licensee must have a minimum of 600 square feet of space under the roof. The hours for which beer, wine, and champagne may be sold and served by a Class D-19 licensee are 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
At its May 27, 2025, regular meeting, the Liquor Control Review Board (“LCRB”) unanimously voted to recommend that Fat Cat Art Gallery be granted a Class D-19 liquor license. At its June 10, 2025 special meeting, the LCRB unanimously voted to recommend the Ordinance to be adopted amending the Class D-19 liquor license classification to add “gallery openings or art and craft shows” as activities allowed under the Arts and Crafts Establishment D-19 classification.
Timing Considerations
Fat Cat Art Gallery would like to start hosting art shows with alcoholic liquor as soon as possible.
Budget Impact
There is no budget impact associated with this item.
Staffing Impact
The Law Department and the Development Services Department are primarily responsible for this item. Public meetings were held on May 27, 2025 and June 10, 2025 that were attended by staff members from Law and Development Services. The Law Department spends approximately seven (7) hours on each liquor license application, which includes preparing meeting minutes and LCRB packets, preparing agenda items, sending LCRB emails, and attending public hearings. The Development Services Department spends approximately ten (10) to twelve (12) hours on each application, which includes meetings with the applicant, processing the application and subsequent documents, and attending public hearings.
DEI Impact
There is no DEI impact regarding this item.
Community Input
A public hearing was held on May 29, 2025. The Liquor Control Review Board has unanimously voted to recommend that Fat Cat Art Gallery be granted a Class D-19 liquor license. At its June 10, 2025 special meeting, the LCRB unanimously voted to recommend the Ordinance to be adopted amending the Class D-19 liquor license classification to add gallery openings or art and craft shows” as activities allowed under the Arts and Crafts Establishment D-19 classification.
Staff Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Advantages:
• Approval of the liquor license can benefit the local economy by allowing the businesses to sell alcohol.
• Approval of the liquor license advances the Village Board’s goal to support new and existing small businesses.
Disadvantages:
• There are no disadvantages to adopting the Ordinance.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Village Board could choose not to adopt the Ordinance.
Advantages:
• There are no advantages if the Board chooses not to adopt the Ordinance.
Disadvantages:
• If the Board does not adopt the Ordinance, the Village’s local economy will not benefit from the creation of jobs and the attraction of new businesses.
Anticipated Future Actions
There are no future actions anticipated in relation to this item.
Prepared By: Rasheda Jackson, Assistant Village Attorney
Reviewed By: Craig Failor, Development Services Director
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Ordinance - Fat Cat Art Gallery