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Trustees say ordinances
downtown are enforced

Attorney for doctor wants Younger's
site plan approval overturned

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Village officials expressed their dislike for repeated complaints made against a local tavern.
       At the Feb. 22 Board of Trustees meeting, Dr. Michael Kehoe of Kehoe Orthodontics had an attorney state his case against the approval of a site plan for Younger's Irish Tavern to construct an outdoor patio and deck on its rear entrance.
       Kehoe has lodged complaints against the business at previous meetings as well, most recently at the Feb. 11 Planning Commission meeting.
       Kurt Brauer of Warner Norcross and Judd represented Kehoe, saying he wanted the board to reconsider the Planning Commission's decision to approve of the site plan, or to add provisions before letting it move forward.
       "I think it's . . . upon the village not to act in a way that could force other merchants out because of the actions of one particular merchant who continues to expand," Brauer said.
       He said the expansion doesn't coincide with the historic atmosphere of Romeo, and that the plan doesn't address the increased parking needs that will come with an expanded capacity.
       "There is already a parking crunch, we know it," he said.
       He compared Younger's to a previous bar in the area called the Blue Banjo, saying there is a sense of "creeping incrementalism" that will attract more patrons, and from there more trouble. He cited noise complaints and the recent cage-fighting event against the tavern.
       Village Clerk Marian McLaughlin said she was concerned with the continued accusations that ordinances aren't being enforced.
       "I've told this to Dr. Kehoe several times, if you're not getting cooperation and an ordinance is being breached give me a call, and I have yet to receive a call," she said.
       Police Chief Greg Paduch said about seven to eight complaints have been filed against Younger's, with two of them being noise complaints and the rest being unruly patrons. He said one of the noise complaints was unfounded.
       "As chief of the department that I'm running, we are out there and we do enforce ordinances, and we also have a thing called officer discretion," he said.
       Village President Paul Reiz said he didn't have a problem with the site plan, though Kehoe should expect to have ordinances enforced if they are being broken.
       Trustee Mike Cregar said downtown businesses are dealing with hard economic times, so if they're following ordinances and laws he wouldn't want to discourage growth.
       Trustee Greg Jacobson said all the bars bring value and people to downtown, and that the continued comments give the impression that Younger's is causing problems.
       "I personally don't think that it's fair to bring a negative connotation to a business of any kind in our downtown," he said.