Proposed Burr Ridge Bar Draws Objections

BURR RIDGE, IL — A restaurant featuring a bar, live entertainment and dancing is planned for County Line Square, but a trustee and a political candidate objected to the proposal this week.

The establishment is set for 312 Burr Ridge Parkway, in the space of the old Fred Astaire dance studio. This week, the Village Board approved the zoning.

Related story: Do village officials have conflicts of interest with the proposed new restaurant?

Just a few doors down from the proposed bar, a dance club called "Are We Live?" is being planned by Filippo "Gigi" Rovito, owner of Burr Ridge's Capri Ristorante, which is also in County Line Square. He has not submitted his plan to the village.

For the 312 Burr Ridge Parkway location, Gene Halleran and Scott Magnusson are among the businessmen behind the plan.

During a discussion at Monday's Village Board meeting, Trustee Zach Mottl said the new establishment was a bar first.

"It looks more like a bar, a dance club, a nightclub or a strip club than a restaurant," Mottl said.

Other trustees tried to stop him from talking, but he continued.

"I see whale booths and whale tables. That's the kind of stuff you have in Las Vegas for high roller gamblers," Mottl said. "This is a significant change for Burr Ridge. I don't think the public has been properly informed that we're moving to bars and nightclubs in Burr Ridge. Once we approve this one, we're essentially approving all bars and nightclubs in Burr Ridge."

The proposal recently went through the Plan Commission, which approved it unanimously. Officials said no one objected to the plan in the commission's public hearing.

Mayor Gary Grasso and trustees defended the proposal.

"This is a bar and a restaurant. It has music, just like many places in Burr Ridge," the mayor said.

During public input, resident Elena Galinski, who is running for trustee in the April 6 village election, said the proposal seemed to be more of a bar and a dance venue than a restaurant. It was not geared toward the families and senior citizens that make up Burr Ridge, she said.

"This would appear to attract a younger crowd from outside of town and potentially increase noise and intoxication issues," Galinski said.

She said the business would be an issue for neighboring residents and potentially the police department.

"It does seem to be a change in the direction for the type of business we're trying to attract," she said. "It doesn't seem to be a good fit for our family-friendly village."

Trustee Guy Franzese disagreed.

"There is no restaurant in Burr Ridge that can survive on Burr Ridge customers only," he said. "These restaurants and facilities have to draw from outside the village in order to survive."

Trustee Anita Mital said music is a big draw for restaurants. She questioned Mottl's position on the issue.

"On one hand, Trustee Mottl says we need to find sources of revenue. Here we have a nice restaurant and we're trying to increase business, but he has shoot down everything," Mital said.

In two votes, the board approved a special use permit for the restaurant and an exception to zoning rules because the restaurant lacks the required number of parking spaces.

Mottl dissented in both votes.

Patch left a message with Halleran, who appears to have taken the lead in presenting the proposal to the village.