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Regular Village Board meetings are typically held at 7:00 p.m., the first three Tuesdays of each month in Council Chambers of Village Hall (room 201), 123 Madison St. When a Regular Meeting falls on a holiday, the meeting typically is held the following night. The Village Board also meets in special sessions from time to time. However, dates and times of Special Meetings can vary and may change.

File #: ORD 26-119    Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Consent Agenda
In control: President and Board of Trustees
On agenda: 3/24/2026 Final action:
Title: *Concur with the Plan Commission's Recommendation and Adopt an Ordinance Approving a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment by Adding Cocktail Lounge as a Permitted Use
Attachments: 1. ORDINANCE, 2. Findings of Fact, 3. Staff Report
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Title
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*Concur with the Plan Commission's Recommendation and Adopt an Ordinance Approving a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment by Adding Cocktail Lounge as a Permitted Use
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Introduction
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The Petitioner, Village of Oak Park, seeks a Zoning Ordinance text amendment by adding the use and definition for Cocktail Lounge as a permitted use in the following zoning districts: NC - Neighborhood Commercial Districts, HS - Harrison Street District, and the DT - Downtown Districts.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Ordinance.
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
Various village departments have been active in aiding interested business owners in searching for locations for this type of business use. Staff have conducted visits to, and had discussions about, potential locations for this use. Village staff have also organized and conducted walk-throughs of locations with a prospective business owner. The Office of Economic Vitality staff continues to provide guidance on possible locations within Oak Park.

Neither the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance nor the Liquor Code allows this specific type of land use without an associated restaurant. Village Code provisions do provide for very specific alcohol-related establishments, such as The Beer Shop, which is categorized as a craft brew lounge, where only craft beer is allowed for sale. This establishment allows patrons to bring in food from other establishments and offers some pre-packaged items. Kingslager on Roosevelt Road, a microbrewery, provides a tasting room for patrons that offers pre-packaged items as well as allowing outside food on the premises.

Two other establishments resemble a "cocktail lounge" but have restaurant food available for sale on premises: Kettlestrings Grove and Mira Social. Both are located on Marion Street in the Pleasant District. These establishments resemble a cocktail lounge, but with food attached. Kettl...

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