With one dissenting vote, Buffalo Grove trustees Monday signed off on a change in ownership of the village’s off-track betting facility, saying the change was simply an amendment to the original, 2009 ordinance that allowed the parlor to open.
The new owner is Hawthorne Race Course, Inc., which replaces Inter-Track Partners, LLC – the entity originally granted the special-use permit to operate an off-track betting facility in what was then Adam’s Rib and Ale House at 301 Milwaukee Ave. The restaurant is now known as Adam’s Roadhouse Sports Bar & Grill. Hawthorne was previously one of the Inter-Track partners.
The sole no vote was cast by Trustee Beverly Sussman, who also voted against the original special use in 2009.
“It’s the gambling issue,” Sussman said after the meeting. “I don’t believe gambling belongs in Buffalo Grove.”
Resident Craig Horwitz had more pointed criticism of the board, characterizing Monday’s action as a transfer of the special-use permit.
“The transfer is a violation of our village ordinances and our constitution,” Horwitz said in remarks to the board. “Hawthorne should have to apply for a special use and go through a public hearing.”
Inter-Track was a consortium formed by Illinois horseracing tracks, including Cicero-based Hawthorne, Maywood Park Trotting Association in Maywood and Balmoral Racing Club, Inc. in Crete.
The village learned about a month ago that Inter-Track was forced into foreclosure in mid-September and that its assets had been taken over by members of the consortium. That left Balmoral operating the OTB until the end of 2010, when the Illinois Racing Board granted a license for the facility to Hawthorne.
Trustees indicated that Hawthorne could operate the facility since it had been part of the original Inter-Track consortium.
“This is not a transfer or a new special use,” said Trustee Jeff Berman. “It’s just an amendment.”
Whether amendment or transfer, the new ordinance carries all the restrictions of the old one on hours of operation, gambling activities, parking, special events and even signs on the property. The new ordinance calls for removal of a billboard on the property by the end of this year.
Horwitz remained convinced the change was an improper transfer.
“Our town’s turning into Cicero, Rosemont and Washington, D.C.,” he said after the meeting.
1. Whether Trustee Sussman believes gambling belongs in Buffalo Grove is moot; it was already there before the OTB ever showed up: some of the most lucrative football pools I ever participated in were run right out of Buffalo Grove H.S.
2. Is anyone else as tired of local politico wannabe / professional boor Craig Horowitz as I am? Is there *any* BG issue for which Mr. Horowitz doesn’t have some sort of comment or complaint? Get a hobby, sir.