During the May 28 virtual Village Board meeting, Interim Huntley Village Manager Lisa Armour proposed a plan to the Board of Trustees calling for the temporary suspension of the Village Liquor Code (Section 110.14) for a period of 90 days in order to allow restaurants to serve takeout food and alcoholic beverages in designated public outdoor areas within the Town Square.
According to Armour, “It would also allow the municipal parking lot behind Parkside Pub and Village Inn as well as the municipal lot behind the BBQ King, to be utilized for food and alcohol service. Service of alcohol would only take place in the municipal lot behind the restaurants adjacent to these locations… open containers of alcohol may not be carried into or out of the Square, in the parking lot.”
Consumption of alcohol within the Square would be permitted from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and between the hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the municipal parking lot. Signs would be posted around the designated areas regarding hours of use associated with the consumption of alcohol, age requirements, limitations of six guests per party and a time limit of 60 minutes. No smoking or vaping would be allowed.
“Approximately 11 picnic tables on loan to the Village from the Huntley Park District are proposed. The mayor would like to increase that number as well. So, we are working with the Park District to accommodate that. Since the restaurants will still be operating a limiting capacity, it’s unlikely that any parking issues would be created if a small number of parking spaces were to be utilized for outdoor seating,” Armour said.
The picnic tables will be spaced out six feet from one another to abide by the social distancing regulations. Armour made a point to the Board of Trustees that guests will only be permitted to purchase sealed containers of alcohol from the surrounding restaurants. This means that if patrons want to opt for a mixed alcoholic beverage, they will have to either bring or purchase their own juice or other preferred mixer, separately.
The Board has the option to terminate the proposed plan early or to extend it further if needed. The Board voted unanimously to pass the motion for the temporary suspension of Section 110.14 of the Liquor Code.
