Village Grants Adam's Roadhouse Two Reprieves

representatives were scolded Monday for recent ordinance violations, but village officials stopped short of doling out punitive measures that would interfere with the restaurant's promotional efforts or off-track betting operation.

The board voted 5-1 to direct village staff to draft an ordinance that would allow Hawthorne Race Course to run off-track betting at Adam's Roadhouse. The operation's future was in late November, after village officials learned that Inter-Track Partners, which was given approval to run OTB there in 2009, went out of business.

The village's ordinance required pre-approval of a license transfer, yet officials did not learn of the situation until two months after the fact. The original ordinance stated that the special use permit would immediately be terminated if violated.

Jeffrey Kras, chief financial officer at Hawthorn Race Course, called the violation "a mistake," but also noted that Inter-Track Partners was merely a management company that oversaw Hawthorne and other entities, and was never the true OTB licensee.

Trustee Beverly Sussman, who was the only official to oppose drafting the new ordinance, questioned why village officials "didn't stop it at that very moment" that the violation was discovered.

"We felt as though they were making significant progress in getting the license transferred over," Village Manager Dane Bragg replied.

"I just don't understand what the purpose is to having special use if they don't adhere to them," Sussman replied. "The letter of the law is this ordinance, and I think it should be followed."

Village President Elliott Hartstein said the village wanted to learn the facts before making such a drastic move.

"To have taken arbitrary action and terminated a business without knowing all of the facts … would have been inappropriate," he said.

"This is a major, major, major decision in shutting down a business," agreed Trustee Steven Trilling. "I would have wanted an opportunity to hear from the petitioner and from other trustees."

Three residents, including former trustee and OTB opponent Lisa Stone, voiced concerns about the facility during Monday's meeting. Officials ultimately decided, however, to consider adopting the new ordinance, which will apply to Hawthorne Race Course.

"I believe the whole issue is controversial at this point only because the OTB was controversial to begin with," said Trustee Eric Smith, earlier that night. "I don't see it as a big issue."

Second Reprieve

Village leaders also voted to grant an extension for , which sits on the north end of the restaurant's property, at 301 Milwaukee Ave. The billboard was originally supposed to be removed last June, but trustees extended the period through Dec. 1. By the Dec. 6 meeting, the sign was still in place.

Michael Arab, managing partner at Adam's Roadhouse, asked officials to allow the restaurant to leave it there for "as long as possible."

"It's the only source of advertising that we have right now," Arab said. "The cost of removing it is over $10,000, and it's very difficult for me right now."

"It's a little dismaying to me that we're discussing this after it was supposed to be down," Trilling said, pointing out that other signage on the property identifies the business.

"A billboard is usually not located on an actual property," Trilling said. "I want to see it taken down as quickly as possible." 

But the Village Board unanimously decided in the end to grant the restaurant a one-year extension on the billboard, which can remain in place until Dec. 1, 2011.

"At some point you're going to have to spend that money," Trustee Jeff Berman told Arab. "What I don't want to hear in a year is the same rationale … At some point, you're going to have to bite the bullet and take it down."