McHenry Times

The McHenry City Council discussed a possible zoning request for a local business during the board's meeting on Feb. 6.

The council heard a zoning request during the meeting that would grant a conditional-use permit and a zoning variance for Lucky Poker, a gambling-themed bar at 4005 North Kane Avenue in McHenry. The owners are looking to purchase the building across the street at 700 North Front Street, which is now vacant. The proposed changes would allow the business to reduce the number of parking spaces from the current 20 to 11, and it would allow them to operate a bar/tavern business without live entertainment. 

Community Development Director Ross Polerecky said that he saw no issues with the parking change, as the business only has five or six gaming machines and the city has already considered changing some of its requirements for restaurants and bars. However, Alderman Andrew Glab expressed a concern that cutting the number of parking spaces could have negative consequences.

"My only reservation is that... if it was to be the type of the business that would pull more, that would give an overflow of parking spaces that would wind up into the residential area around the corner, that would concern me," Glab said.

The business currently operates in an area of about 1,600 square feet, and the new building would be approximately 2,000. The owners do not have any plans to change staffing yet, although that may change if they add pool tables and dart boards, as they’ve discussed and implemented in other locations. 

After discussion, the council unanimously approved the variance.