Residents to review proposed zoning change for Taste Food and Wine to allow sale

Residents to review proposed zoning change for Taste Food and Wine to allow sales of wine and beer by the glass Ald. Moore invites you to attend a community meeting to review a proposed zoning change that would allow Taste Food and Wine, 1506 W. Jarvis, to serve wine and beer by the glass. Thursday, January 24, 2019 7 p.m. 49th Ward Service Office, 7356 N. Greenview. Taste is a fine wine and cheese shop that also carries a selection of craft beers and premium spirits. Taste’s owners, Rogers Park residents Sandra Carter and Phoebe Rosenwald, plan to continue operating their store primarily as a retail business but would like the option to serve wine and beer by the glass, along with small appetizers, such as cheese and charcuterie. In order to serve alcoholic beverages by the glass, they need to secure a tavern license. The property currently is zoned B3, a zoning classification that does not allow a licensed tavern within 400 feet of another tavern. The Poitin Stil, a licensed tavern, is located next door to Taste. As a result, the owners of Taste need to change the zoning classification of their property to C1-3, which has no restriction on taverns, before they can apply for the tavern license. Changing the zoning does not automatically entitle the owners to a tavern license; it simply gives them the right to apply for a license. The owners still must satisfy the City’s criteria for a liquor license and their application is subject to the approval of the City of Chicago’s Local Liquor Control Commissioner. The opinion of the local alderman and the community may influence the Commissioner’s decision, but the Commissioner retains final authority over whether the license will be issued. The Liquor Control Commissioner may at her discretion require the applicant to sign a legally binding “Liquor License Plan of Operation,” which places various conditions on the license. Any violation of the agreement may result in the imposition of a fine or a suspension or revocation of the license. Ald. Moore will make a final decision on whether to support the zoning change after receiving input from those who attend the community meeting or send comments to my office. He encourages you to attend the meeting to offer your opinions on the proposal. More information at, https://www.ward49.com/.