Sugar Grove OKs tax incentive to get a Culver's
Sugar Grove residents may get to enjoy a cool custard treat in town, as a Culver's restaurant may be built on the west side of Route 47.
The village board Tuesday agreed to rebate up to $105,000 in sales tax to the franchisee, James Newkirk.
It would be built north of the Walgreens and south of the Dunkin' Donuts that is under construction.
The building would resemble that of the Culver's in DeKalb, unlike the blue-and-white type in neighboring North Aurora.
Newkirk, in turn, has to have the restaurant ready by Nov. 30.
The money would be paid over seven years, with the city rebating 75 percent of the taxes collected in the first two years, 50 percent in years three through five, and 25 percent in years six and seven.
Village President Sean Michels noted that because the state prohibits direct access to Route 47, Newkirk will have to build a driveway through a detention area to connect to Division Drive, which connects to Galena Boulevard. The rebate will help offset the cost.
Only Trustee Ted Koch voted against the deal.
"I really want Culver's here," he stressed, but he didn't think the driveway was that extraordinary of an expense.
That is in contrast to his "yes" vote last year to offer sales-tax rebate for the reconstruction of a vacant gasoline station and convenience store on the northeast corner of Route 47 and Galena Boulevard.
"That kind of massive undertaking is in a different category of risk," Koch said.