By Stephanie Irvine
Arrowhead Smokeworks received unanimous village board approval of a special use permit for a storage container to house their outdoor smoker — the last approval the restaurant needed to open.
Prior to Arrowhead Smokeworks’ container approval, the village amended Title IV of the village code, which updated the commercial zoning regulation language that previously prohibited containers. This amendment made it possible for Arrowhead Smokeworks’ container, and ultimately the restaurant, to move forward.
The new changes only are applicable to commercial properties zoned C-2 and C-3, and it gives the village power to review and approve or deny container proposals on a case-by-case basis.
Resident Maureen Bennett expressed reservations regarding container zoning regulation changes at public comment. She had questions regarding the proposed zoning changes at the plan commission meeting but said she did not get out of the meeting.
Despite her reservations, Bennett said she hoped it would pass, as she would like the restaurant to open.
During the discussion of the zoning changes, Mayor Adrieansen and Development Director Marc Nelson specifically addressed the issues Bennett raised during public comments.
If a business leaves a container, the village could use code enforcement laws to pursue forcible container removal. Additionally, the concern regarding containers in residential areas was quelled when Nelson explained the ordinance change only applies to commercial areas, and containers are currently illegal in residential areas.
Arrowhead Smokeworks’ restaurant owner Mike Bacon came before the board last month to discuss and request a container or shelter to store his large outdoor smoker. The container is necessary to provide a safe and secure area for the smoker and related items.
The board discussed options but disagreed on what type of smoker storage Bacon could have.
As a tenant in the village’s building, Bacon could not make any permanent modifications to the building for the restaurant, and the container was a safe solution that could work for his business and the building — once the commercial zoning regulations were amended.
In the interim, between the open discussion and the present, changes were worked out, and the village’s plan commission held a public hearing that resulted in the unanimous recommendation of Bacon’s container to the village board.
Trustee Dave Beemsterboer, who previously was vehemently against the use of containers anywhere, softened his perspective once the ordinance changes were in place.
“At the time when it was presented to us at the prior meeting, it was not allowed under the ordinance, and it would’ve been an illegal act for us to let him put that container there,” Beemsterboer spoke ahead of the vote regarding the concerns he had about Arrowhead Smokeworks’ container.
“Now, we’ve changed the ordinance, and now it’s legal,” Beemsterboer said before thanking restaurateur Bacon for how the container was painted and offering well wishes on the restaurant’s opening. Beemsterboer also thanked the administrator and village attorney for addressing his concerns.
Beesterboer also explained that the lease previously did not include the area where the container would go, which would have left the village open to liabilities. Since then, these issues were addressed, and the lease was amended and formally approved at the meeting.
Residents looking forward to Arrowhead Smokeworks will have to be patient a little longer. Though the restaurant now has all of the approvals needed to open, it does not have a formal opening day set just yet. Bacon hopes everything will be in place soon, possibly in the next few weeks to a month.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.