Lake Zurich officials to meet on outdoor dining area

Lake Zurich village officials have agreed to meet with a group of Deer Park residents who are unhappy with village approval of plans to allow an outdoor dining area at Beelow's Steakhouse.

Village Administrator Bob Vitas offered to make himself and staff members available for a meeting between restaurant owner Dan Beelow and his attorney, and Elmhurst attorney Mark Daniel and his clients within two weeks before construction on the area is scheduled to start.

“(We can) see whether or not there is a happy medium at which we can bring the parties together short of any litigation down the road,” Vitas said. “We want to address their concerns and protect the interests of Beelow's restaurant as well.

During Monday's village board meeting, Daniel asked that the village reconsider the project approval and meet with his clients — Derek Brouer, Jeff Lange and Marlene Smetana, who live adjacent to the restaurant property. Daniel said they question the restrictions placed upon the restaurant to limit noise on its outdoor space.

The village board agreed earlier this month to allow Beelow's Steakhouse, 763 S. Rand Road, to construct the outdoor space featuring seating for 120 people and a bar, fireplace, two waterfalls and a sliding roof.

Daniel said the residents voiced their objections during a plan commission meeting. When the issue was brought before the village board, the developer withdrew outdoor live entertainment from the proposal.

“It smells a lot like a developer coming in and asking for more than a developer expects to receive and getting something that can be lived with,” he said.

However, residents still have unanswered questions, Daniel said, including what restrictions are put in place to limit noise to nearby residents.

“The ordinance does not pass muster compared to other ordinances that have been passed previously within the village,” he said.

He asked that the board reconsider the ordinance, and said he and his clients would make every effort to avoid litigation and meet with Beelow and his attorney.

“I assure you we approach this from a reasonable perspective,” Daniel said. “There are changes that need to be made and a proper plan needs to be approved.

He said meeting with village staff is what his clients wanted.

“We would have preferred a meeting when the village had a chance to amend the ordinance,” Daniel said.