Geneva may ease restrictions on secondhand shop locations
Secondhand stores may become a permitted use in Geneva's B-3 downtown business district, and may even show up on South Third Street, under changes to be considered Monday by the city council.
Currently, secondhand shops are only allowed as special uses in that district, and aren't allowed at all on Third Street from Campbell to South Street.
The committee is considering making secondhand shops of 7,500 square feet or less a permitted use in the district, and allowing them as special use on Third Street.
The shops would be required to sell the types of merchandise normally allowed in the district, such as clothing, household goods and books. They could not sell furniture nor appliances.
The request comes as property owner Mike Simon has applied for a special-use permit to allow a secondhand clothing store to open in one of his buildings, the Wells House, on the northwest corner of Third and Franklin streets. Jane Pabon Boutique, currently in St. Charles, is interested in moving there, according to a city memo. The store sells new clothing, and used clothing on consignment.
There are antique stores in downtown Geneva; however, the city's definition of "secondhand shops" specifically says an antiques store is not a secondhand shop.
Becoming a permitted use means a secondhand shop would not need to get the permission of the city council to open. Being a special use means the business has to get the permission of the city council, which is supposed to make sure the use does not adversely affect the area. Special uses in the B-3 area include banks, churches, restaurants, cocktail lounges, museums, barbershops, hair salons and nail salons. Banks, barbershops, hair salons and nail salons are prohibited along Third from Campbell to South on properties in the B3 district. The Dodson Place complex at the south end of Third is in a different zoning category, which allows hair salons.
The council meets as a committee of the whole at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 109 James St.