Wheaton City Council - Do Not Grant a Liquor License to 7 Eleven

I’m a Wheaton resident opposed to the liquor license for the 7 Eleven on Liberty near St. Michael church and school. I am one of many residents who do not feel we should have amended our ordinance to align with the bare minimum legislated by the state.

Please consider the precedent you are setting by granting the first liquor license to an establishment within 100 feet of a school/church. In this particular case, the distance is 70 feet. If you vote in favor of the liquor license, you are disregarding the unanimous vote of our city’s Liquor Control Commission, who found that granting a license to this establishment was not in the best interest of our city. The commission cited 124 police calls to the 7-Eleven on Liberty within the past three years vs. 19 calls for the 7 other convenience stores combined.

You also will be disregarding the voices of hundreds of St. Michael parishioners and leadership who were already concerned about the high level of activity in our immediate surroundings. To the five members who voted in favor of amending the ordinance, I respectfully ask you to consider some of the following questions before you overturn the Liquor Commission’s decision:

*If you have children in this town, would you embrace the idea of liquor sales that close to your child’s school - with all the surrounding factors being the same as they are in this scenario? Would you feel comfortable announcing to fellow parents that you voted in favor of liquor sales within 70 feet of your school?

*Do you feel that Wheaton operates best as a bare minimum community? Do you feel this mindset has been the way Wheaton has thrived and excelled for so many years?

*How many other scenarios are there in Wheaton where there are liquor sales in relatively close proximity to a school/church? And how many feet away are those establishments?

*How do you personally feel about the 100 foot rule? If 70 feet is ok now, will 50 feet be ok for future scenarios? Or 25 feet? Or will you instead evaluate the surrounding area and all the factors versus hinging the decision on a some arbitrary number of feet?

*If no other school/church would ever be effected (due to current zoning), then why is ok to grant this one exception for a liquor license? Why would Wheaton want liquor sold near ANY schools/churches?

*If you do not feel the Liquor Commission found enough evidence that the license would not be in the best interest of the residents, what specific evidence would have convinced you? Along with the high number of police calls, this 7 Eleven is located in a high traffic area comprised of a train stop, homeless shelters, a PACE bus stop and a bank that has been robbed. Would only a crime committed against a student have been enough to convince you?

*Have you talked directly to employees or residents who occupy the St. Michael Faith Center or frequently use it? Do you have a solid understanding of the weekly happenings and foot traffic surrounding the building most closely located to the 7 Eleven?

*If you’re wrong about the liquor sales directly and negatively impacting a student, how will you be held accountable? What is the process to remedy any problems that occur?

*Is there a plan in place and extra resources available to increase patrol of the area to monitor alcohol purchases and potential open consumption?

*What type of packaged alcohol will be sold at this 7 Eleven?

*If the current 7 Eleven owners sell their business, will the liquor license be transferable?

*From a marketing standpoint, what type of traffic do you expect will purchase this packaged alcohol?

*In a Tribune article from August 2014, Mayor Gresk notes the following related to less restrictive alcohol policies: “This has been a gradual process, bringing alcohol into our town…The process is slow, at times a tortuous and tedious process to get it done.” What are you hoping to ‘get done’ as a city council with respect to less restrictive alcohol policies? What is the goal of this gradual process?

At the least, please consider tabling this item until you can talk further with concerned residents.

Wheaton Residents, you can do something to take action!

Please consider emailing your council rep, any of the at large reps or the mayor. You can send an email to all City Council members at allcouncil@wheaton.il.us.

Attend the meeting on Monday, Oct. 20, a 7 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall, 303 W. Wesley. The agenda includes a place for public comments.