South Russell planning commission sets Oct. 16 public hearings for school sign and new restaurant

The Village of South Russell Planning Commission on Sept. 11 voted to move its October meeting from Oct. 9 to Oct. 16 and set public hearings for two conditional-use permit applications: a request to return a school sign to a prior location at 1155 Bell Road and an application to open a restaurant at 504 East Washington Street.

Under the village zoning code, "pursuant to section 3.05 b of the zoning code, the planning commission shall schedule a public hearing within 60 days" of submission of a conditional-use permit application, Planning Commission members said during the meeting. The commission scheduled both hearings for Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. at Village Hall.

The first case, recorded as PC2506 in commission materials, was submitted by a representative from Sinerama on behalf of Gurnee Elementary School. The applicant told commissioners the school sign originally stood for "many, many years" at its former location and that an earlier move had placed it in a less appropriate spot. The applicant did not request discussion beyond scheduling the hearing.

The second case, PC2507, is an application from Jason Piazza of Hungry Brands to open a steak restaurant at 504 East Washington Street. Piazza said he welcomes the scheduled hearing and expects the Oct. 16 date will work for his business; the commission agreed to place both hearings on the same evening to streamline public notice and attendance.

The vote to move the meeting and set the hearings carried unanimously among members present. Commissioners did not take final action on either permit at the Sept. 11 meeting; both items were set for public hearing and subsequent consideration after the hearing record is complete.

Details commissioners noted for the record included the applicants' responsibility to notify nearby property owners and to be prepared to answer questions at the public hearings. No other legal authorities beyond the cited zoning-code provision were invoked during the scheduling discussion.

The commission provided no further project approvals at the Sept. 11 meeting for either case; both will return to the commission after the Oct. 16 public hearings for a formal decision or recommendation.

The commission meets at Village Hall; the public hearing notices for PC2506 and PC2507 will include instructions for submitting comments in advance or appearing in person at the Oct. 16 meeting.