Willow Springs board approves business and liquor license allocation, conditionally OKs sign permit for 3 Kings Gas

The Village of Willow Springs board voted May 23 to approve a business license for 3 Kings Gas Inc., authorized the creation of one additional Class B‑1 liquor license to allow the liquor commissioner to assign it to the business, and approved the company’s sign permit contingent on amended application details and required inspections.

President Nedimeyer opened the business-item discussion by saying staff had reviewed the application and zoning for the property at 8700 Archer and that the applicant’s representative was present for questions. The board moved and seconded a motion to approve the business license; after trustees asked detailed questions about permitting, zoning verification and hazardous‑materials oversight, the board recorded unanimous approval.

Trustees pressed the applicant on building and fire‑safety matters. A trustee asked whether the applicant had checked with the building department and whether hazardous materials would be stored on site; the board’s staff confirmed zoning had been verified as part of the application process and noted that fuel‑tank safety and related inspections fall under the jurisdiction of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and local fire inspectors. The applicant said the convenience‑store portion of the business would be the primary focus and described plans to stock grocery items.

The board debated how to classify and make available the liquor license. President Nedimeyer proposed increasing the number of available Class B‑1 licenses by one so the liquor commissioner could assign the license to 3 Kings Gas. One trustee cited village code language and said an ordinance setting the number of licenses is required; legal counsel and other trustees said the board may act on the agendaed item and that the license allocation could be placed on the record now and revisited with an ordinance at a later meeting if members desired.

After further discussion the board approved the Class B‑1 increase and the president stated intent to assign that newly created license to 3 Kings Gas Inc. The board then considered a sign permit application; trustees raised questions about the application’s omission of dimensions for canopy and other signs, whether some signs on the site might require engineering review if they exceed 50 square feet, and whether existing window signs obstruct required openings. The board approved the sign permit with the expectation the applicant would amend the application to include dimensions for all signs and that the business comply with building and sign codes and complete any necessary inspections.

All three actions—the business license, the Class B‑1 license allocation and the conditional sign permit—passed by unanimous voice or roll‑call vote. The board moved on to other agenda items after directing staff and the applicant to complete outstanding application details.

Votes at a glance: business license approved (board recorded unanimous approval); Class B‑1 license allocation approved (unanimous); sign permit approved subject to amendment and inspections (unanimous).

What happens next: the liquor commissioner will receive the authority to assign the new Class B‑1 license to the applicant, and staff requested the applicant return amended sign documentation and any required inspection approvals for the village files.