Shorewood OKs site changes for new restaurant
By Clare Walters For The Herald-News October 10, 2012 8:30AM
Maps
Updated: November 13, 2012 6:16AM
SHOREWOOD — The covered wagon outside a new restaurant is here to stay.
The village board Tuesday approved an amendment to the site plan for Skooter’s Roadhouse, 700 W. Jefferson St. The move permits the country/Tex-Mex restaurant — formerly Louie’s Chophouse — to have the decorative wagon featured at the southeast corner of its lot.
“That’s a very nice feature to the plan and the site,” said Trustee Gary Fitzgerald, chairman of the planning and zoning commission.
The changes to the site plan include redesigned curbing, larger trees, denser landscaping and the removal of a portion of decorative fencing, he said. Additionally concerns had been raised about the color and shiny look of the building’s roof, which is not reflective of the color originally intended for the site.
Skooter’s owner Pete Gelis said he isn’t happy with the roof and hopes it “dulls out” with the forthcoming winter weather. If it doesn’t, the material will be treated and dulled in the spring.
“I don’t want a brand-new shiny roof on an old building,” he said.
Work continues on readying the restaurant for its opening, which Gelis said is tentatively set for Oct. 22.
Trustee Celine Schwartz said she’s likes all the improvements made to the restaurant site.
“The pictures look nice, but in person it’s way nicer,” she said.
In other business Tuesday, the village board discussed a potential amendment to its fence ordinance that would allow homeowners to put up a small amount of fencing in their side yards in order to screen garbage containers.
Fitzgerald said an amendment is being considered because some village homeowner associations require such screening, but the installation is in conflict with village regulations.
The planning and zoning commission recommended allowing fencing for the screening of refuse containers to be no higher than 4 feet and no longer than 10 feet.
However, Trustee Jim McDonald said he believed the large wheeled garbage cans are taller than 4 feet, which would defeat the purpose of screening the cans from view.
A formal change to the village ordinance has been put on hold until McDonald’s concern can be addressed.
