Any Brookfield bar owner hoping to open a beer garden this summer either has to have the request conform to the current liquor code or wait until that code has been rewritten.
That could be 2009, but there’s no guarantee they’ll be welcome at all.
“Staff is recommending against any change and to let this season pass,” said Keith Sbiral, assistant village manager and the village’s director of building and planning. “We’ll put it into our comprehensive zoning review and bring forth a presentation in July or August to outline the steps.”
While a comprehensive rewrite of the zoning code could take up to a year to complete, revising the liquor code could take much less time and the provision in the code regarding outdoor liquor licenses would be in Sbiral’s words, “a minor aspect of it.”
Whether the liquor code changes would be in place for 2009, however, depends on how quickly the board acts.
“I’d hope we would not miss another season if the board wants to create that type of use,” Sbiral said. “I hope the options are presented in time for next season.”
Village President Michael Garvey has indicated that any changes in the liquor code regarding outdoor licenses might be geared more to allow them for establishments whose primary business is serving food. The beer garden-a place outdoors for drinking alcohol alone-might not have much support from trustees.
“The board is more comfortable with outdoor solutions where it’s much more of a restaurant setting,” Garvey said. “If you’re looking for outdoor drinking, I don’t know if this board wants that to happen.”
The village board over the next several months may also look into changing other aspects of the code, including eliminating 4 a.m. licenses and video poker machines. The board may also consider loosening the rule on selling alcohol on Sundays.
Brookfield businesses are not allowed to sell alcohol until noon on Sundays. Garvey said that start time could be made earlier to accommodate Sunday sporting events.
For over a month, village trustees have discussed amending the liquor code to allow more beer gardens and outdoor cafes to be approved in Brookfield. But instead of making stop-gap changes, village staff recommended on June 23 to address the code comprehensively over the next several months.
The decision killed at least one planned beer garden at Brixie’s Saloon, 9526 Ogden Ave. Back in April, Brixie’s applied for a liquor license for an outdoor seating area to be built in its parking lot. But the village turned the bar down, citing the liquor code, which calls for a distance of 200 feet between any outdoor beer garden and residences.
Brixie’s manager Chris DiBraccio held out hope that such a beer garden might still be possible in 2008 with a simple amendment to the liquor code. Now his plans are on hold until 2009.
“It’s pretty unfortunate they can’t do this quick enough for the needs of the businesses,” DiBraccio said. “On the other hand, it’s unfortunate that they already have seven [outdoor seating areas] which, under the current code, I’m not sure any would be allowed. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
One other outdoor liquor license application the village won’t have to worry about is one sought previously by the owner of Phil’s Sports Bar and Grill, 8901 Burlington Ave. Owner Phil Stanton, who expressed aggravation over his denial of an outdoor license in April, has since put the bar up for sale.
The prospective new owner of the bar, Vanessa Wilkowski, told village trustees on June 9 that she had no interest in obtaining an outdoor liquor license.