Wheaton OKs 7-Eleven liquor license despite resident concerns

There was one final, unsuccessful push by residents to stop the issuance of a liquor license to a 7-Eleven in downtown Wheaton.

The city council approved a license for the store at 326 W. Liberty Drive in a 4-2 vote Monday. Thor Saline and Phil Suess voted no and Evelyn Pacino Sanguinetti was absent.

"The people who have come in and spoken to us are the people who are impacted by this. There's a message there. And I think there's a high level of frustration that the people feel they're not being listened to," Suess said.

"I just think this is a bad decision for the community," he said. "There's no upside to it and I just hope that down the road we don't have regrets."

The city's liquor ordinance states that liquor licenses can't be issued for the retail sale of alcohol within 100 feet of a church, school, hospital or home for the aged or indigent.

The rear corner of the 7-Eleven is just 70 feet from the nearest part of the parish center for St. Michael Catholic Church. The store owners asked the council to grant them an exception and the council approved an amendment to the ordinance

The city's liquor control commission last month unanimously recommended the council decline the issuance of the Class S license, which was created earlier this year to give convenience stores an opportunity to sell beer, wine and liquor.

Commission member Eileen Pierce said she understands the need to help businesses thrive, but giving 7-Eleven a liquor license could make downtown Wheaton less safe.

Robert Hurley spoke of how his son, Sean, and other kids who attended Glenbard South High School would stop by a 7-Eleven before football games to pick up snacks and would see people buying liquor.

"When they reached age, where were they going to go and look for something?" he said.

Several parents from St. Michael and Longfellow Elementary School brought up similar concerns in past meetings, along with worries about the safety of their children.

Earlier this year, Sean died in a car accident after getting in a car with someone who was drinking beer purchased at a 7-Eleven, Hurley said. His son was 24.

"I was watching what happened at the last city council meeting and I want to let you know that when I hear the parents from Longfellow and St. Mike's, I personify what they dread," he said, holding a framed photo of his son.

Councilman John Prendiville offered his condolences to Hurley and said he made a strong argument, but it was more against alcohol in general.

"I think a risk always exists," Prendiville said. "Probability (of decreased safety) is very low here based on the facts that we know. I would support not treating this business differently, in light of that."

Mayor Michael Gresk said that as a father and grandfather he understands residents' concerns, but he believes the business owners will be responsible and follow the law.

"There are vehicles, devices in place to monitor this," he said. "I'm comfortable voting yes on this with those procedures and those ordinances in place, that we can manage this situation just as we've managed the other 55 liquor licenses that are out there."