Burr Ridge Trustee: 'Now We Look Like Fools'

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge officials expressed disappointment in the popular Capri Ristorante this week after the eatery drew two noise complaints recently.

These complaints follow the debate earlier in June about whether to approve the Capri Ristorante owner's proposal for a lounge called Are We Live in the same shopping center, County Line Square.

Noise was one of the big issues, with owner Filippo Rovito assuring the Village Board that it would not be a problem. The board unanimously approved a permit for the lounge.

The latest complaint was last weekend. A wedding party's DJ played loud music in a tent outside Capri. Police cited Capri on a charge of disorderly conduct after resident Jennifer Fox submitted a complaint. In an email, Rovito apologized to Fox.

Trustee Guy Franzese was unhappy about the latest developments.

"Here we have DJ music inside a tent disturbing our residents," Franzese said. "I'm very disappointed that I have to bring this up and mention this because we had assurances two weeks ago, and now we look like fools."

Franzese asked Police Chief John Madden to give a report on the noise complaints. The first one was the weekend before last, and the restaurant turned down the music upon officers' request, the chief said.

The next time was last weekend. The police asked Rovito to turn down the volume, Madden said, but ultimately asked him to turn it off. The restaurant declined to turn it off, but did turn it down, he said.

"We contacted the complainant, who could still hear the music. She signed a complaint," the chief said.

The citation was an ordinance violence, which could result in a fine from $125 to $750, Madden said.

Asked about noise complaints over the last year, Madden said police had received 17 village-wide. Nine of those were related to County Line Square, with the majority for County Wine Merchant and three for Capri, he said.

At Monday's board meeting, trustees were set to take a final vote on zoning for Are We Live. Trustee Russell Smith said that because Are We Live and Capri are separate, the board should stay focused on the application for Are We Live, not the noise from Capri.

But Trustee Tony Schiappa said the two establishments would have the same operator.

"That's what we have to keep mindful of," he said.

He said he was disappointed with Capri on the recent noise issues, but he said the restaurant overall has been a "great neighbor of ours."

Mayor Gary Grasso, who is Rovito's former lawyer, said he, too, was disappointed with the recent problems. But he said he had received assurances from Rovito that no other such events were planned for the tent. He said Capri should respect its neighbors. And he said the village would consider a noise ordinance.

After the others spoke, Franzese agreed Capri was a "great neighbor and great citizen."

"These two incidents happen to mar their reputation," Franzese said. "It's unfortunate. I'm sure he'll try to do his best to make sure it doesn't happen again. But it's unrealistic to expect a vinyl-covered canvas tent to contain loud music. It's unreasonable."

The board unanimously voted to finalize the zoning for Are We Live.

Afterward, Rovito told the board the wedding was originally planned at his since-closed facility in Countryside last year, but was canceled because of the coronavirus. The couple lost a family member during the pandemic, he said. He said he had no more events or weddings planned for the tent.

"Overall, having a tent is new to me. I'm sure to everyone else, too," Rovito said. "I don't know the rules and regulations."

He said he apologized "if I got anyone mad here. It was only one complaint from the whole area."