Zoning Commission Approves Dierbergs Outdoor Barbecue Smoker, Cell Tower Expansions

A new outdoor barbecue smoker at location prompted discussion at Thursday's planning and zoning commission meeting.

Dierbergs Vice President and General Counsel Sarah Siegel asked the commission to extend the duration of approval for its site plan to a full year in light of the “significant investment” her company is making. She said the new installation will cost between $15,000 and $20,000, and the grocery chain will hire one full-time and one part-time associate to manage it.

The smoker will be built on a trailer behind fencing and will remain at the 2979 Highway K location at all times. The smokers have already been installed at several area Dierbergs, and the company eventually hopes to have one at every location.

“I think if you checked around, you would find that the host communities have all had a good experience with this,” Siegel said. “We want to be good neighbors and good citizens of all the cities that we have stores in.”

“I don’t have a problem with a year,” said Mayor Bill Hennessey. “And if we have complaints, then I think we go to Dierbergs and see if we can get them fixed. “

Dierbergs agreed to a preliminary inspection by the building department and allayed concerns about ash-waste removal, electric supply and sanitation. The motion for action passed with none opposed. Siegel said the store hoped to have its new unit operational by Nov. 15.

The commission approved more requests by AT&T to construct three new antennae each on three existing cellular towers at 800 Natoli Dr., 145 Pieper Rd. and 1877 West Terra Ln.

“A structural analysis was run, and we determined that the towers will structurally handle our loading,” said the representative from the Black & Veatch Corporation, which represents the telecommunications giant locally.

“These towers have become a necessity for life, but they’re ugly,” said commissioner Doug Howard. “I appreciate the carriers working together to share these antenna towers, so that we have as few of them as possible.” , AT&T applied last month for conditional use permits to add tenants to three other area towers.

The commission also approved a permit to serve alcoholic beverages by the drink for the Sushi AI location at 2981 Highway K, as well as a permit for the new Sombrero Mexican restaurant with a drive-through at 1491 Mexico Loop Rd.