Councilman wants vision for downtown Palatine

It’s time to decide on a direction for Palatine’s downtown, one village official says.

The village council this week tabled Hotshots Saloon’s request for later hours and a live entertainment license, telling owner Tim O’Brien he first has to address the congregate of smokers on the sidewalk outside his business and further research the noise implications of what he is seeking.

Councilman Aaron Del Mar didn’t join his peers in delaying the vote, saying continued restrictions on businesses is setting them up to fail.

“It’s becoming a night life district, so are we going to allow it to become a night life area or are we going to push for it to be retail?” said Del Mar, adding that several downtown retailers have gone out of business. “It doesn’t matter if we have 15 people banging drums (in Hotshots) because that whole area’s going to be bars anyway.”

Councilman Brad Helms, who represents the downtown district, said he believes O’Brien misrepresented Hotshots as a family-oriented restaurant when the operation was approved last year.

Helms said he’s received numerous complaints about people having to walk through a cloud of smoke from Hotshots patrons, and that withholding the licenses for later hours and live entertainment is a way to ensure the issue is addressed.

Further, Helms said he wants officials to discuss whether or not the village should issue any more 3 a.m. liquor licenses.