Village Officials To Seek 'Happy Medium' On Noise Concerns

Lake Zurich village officials may soon schedule a meeting with the owner of Beelow's Steakhouse and the restaurant's attorney in an effort to see if a compromise can be reached regarding the board's recent decision to allow the construction of an outdoor seating area at the restaurant.

At Monday night's village board meeting, Mark Daniel, an Elmhurst-based attorney representing three clients who live within earshot of Beelow's patio, implored the board to reconsider its decision to allow the outdoor seating area.

"I hope that as the leaders of this community … that you would reconsider this," said Daniel, who asked the board to add an item to its agenda Monday night that could place the Beelow's issue in the "reconsider phase."

Trustees voted at their May 2 meeting to give the go-ahead for Beelow's to build the outdoor seating area, with live entertainment only allowed inside the restaurant.

Residents at that meeting expressed concerns that there could still be noise generated from patrons consuming alcohol outside during the late evening hours.

"There are changes that need to be made," said Daniel. He added that the ordinance, as passed, "does not pass muster" compared to other ordinances passed in the village. He said noise concerns remain and questioned what will happen if customers are watching Bears games or other television programs.

"What provisions are there?" said Daniel.

Village Administrator Bob Vitas said he and village staff can facilitate a meeting to see if there is a "happy medium" to address residents' concerns.