Planning and Development Commission Closes Gold-Buying Loophole
Commissions recommend an amendment to the special-use process tightening zoning requirements for cash-for-gold businesses.
Oak Lawn Planning and Development commissioners approved a change to the village’s zoning code that they hope closes a loophole allowing some precious metal dealers to potentially skirt the special-use permit process.
The village zoning code currently does not require a special-use permit to buy gold if retail jewelry or other merchandise is sold, nor does it specify what percentage of the business must be dedicated to retail.
Last summer, an existing cash-for-gold store applied to open a second store in Oak Lawn, but changed its application at the last minute to include a few trays of retail fashion jewelry to avoid the special-use process to avoid having its application denied. After an adverse decision by the planning and development commission—a stalemated vote—village trustees ultimately denied the owners’ application to open the second store on appeal.
The amendment more clearly defines the difference between a precious metal dealer, such as a cash-for-gold store, and a retail jewelry store as one that does at least 80 percent of its business in retail sales of jewelry and gems.
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“The idea is to address recent issues the village has been having with gold-buying stores by defining and setting requirements for them,” village attorney Patrick Connelly said. “The problem is it hasn’t been defined because gold-buying is clearly an evolving use.”
Village Manager Larry Deetjen, speaking to the commission, said that problems have come up with Oak Lawn’s gold-buying establishments concerning how many days’ pieces of jewelry purchased from the public are held.
“It’s out the door almost like a pawn shop,” Deetjen said. “It turns it’s a theft or regulation issue. We’ve run into that problem.”
Deetjen described other problems concerning signage and defining what is or isn’t a retail jewelry store.
“Seeing that issue, everyone should be treated the same way so there’s fairness across the board,” the village manager said. “We’re trying to nip it in the bud so we don’t have a preponderance of pawn shop arrangements [in the village.]”
The proposed amendment defines precious metal dealers as “an establishment primarily engaged in the business of purchasing precious metals including gold and silver in any form, stones or gems from the public.” Businesses whose revenue comes from 20-percent or more of gold or other precious metal buying are subject to the amended ordinance.
Excluded are retail jewelry stores that occasionally dabble in buying gold or other precious metal pieces, and wholesale precious metal dealers.
Neighboring Worth and other municipalities have placed a moratorium on new cash-for-gold stores. Oak Lawn currently has five existing gold-buying stores.
Connelly, the village attorney, said the amendment to the special-use process offered the village more leeway in imposing reasonable conditions on special-use permits, such as signage and security cameras.
“Some have done moratoriums until they figure out [zoning] or until the gold price goes down,” Connelly said. “We not saying [gold-buying stores] can’t come here, they just have to come for a special-use permit.”
The Planning and Development Commission voted 6-0 to recommend the change, which goes before village board trustees for a final vote at their upcoming Feb. 14 meeting.
ME
7:20 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
DO NOT LET ANY MORE OF THESE STORES IN OAK LAWN. IF THERE IS ROOM FOR THESE STORES, THEN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKING DEPARTMENT OF OAK LAWN IS NOT DOING THEIR JOBS PROPERLY. THEY NEED TO GET BETTER BOUTIQUES OR HIGHER END STORE INTO OAK LAWN. WE ARE A GATEWAY TO THE EXPRESSWAYS AND CAR DEALERS AND A HUGE HOSPITAL. GET TRADER JOES AND OTHER LARGER STORES IN HERE. C'MON OAK LAWN EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OAK LAWN. DO YOUR JOBS AND DON'T LET TWO BIT SHOPS IN OAK LAWN.
Dan
2:34 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
BOUTIQUES AND HIGHER END STORES,WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING?AT THIS TIME NO ONE CAN AFFORD THINGS LIKE THAT, AND BECAUSE THEY WONT LET THEM IN OAK LAWN IS LOSING OUT ON COLLECTING TAXES FROM THIS COMPANY. IF ANYTHING LETS GET RID OF THE SHABBY HOTELS AND LIQUOR STORES BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE WHO GO TO THOSE PLACES.
osp
2:59 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
just to clarify. the planning and development board of Oak Lawn is not responsible for recruiting businesses into Oak Lawn. Their job is to recommend to the village board to approve or to reject businesses that want to come into Oak Lawn. Based on their recommendations the village board can do what they please, they don't necessarily have to follow the planning and development boards recommendations. the planning and development board is a group of hard working individuals who give their time and efforts to try to do what is best for the WHOLE village of Oak Lawn and for that they should be commended.
Lorraine Swanson
12:05 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
You are correct, Tim. This is a zoning issue, not a licensing issue. The PDC decides if businesses are a right fit for their area.
Dan
3:43 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Are they the ones who told the village to spend all that money on rebuilding the parks in Oak Lawn and then raise our taxes?
osp
4:34 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
no they are not. they don't make any recommendations on parks that is the park district's job. read lorraine's comments. that is what the pdc does.
ME
2:11 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
So, who recommended American Jewelery? Who let them into Oak Lawn? Whatever the issue............ American Jewelry is letting Spanish Gold Buying Stores into Oak Lawn. Nice. All the residents just received a big yellow cardboard flyer in the mail with WE BUY GOLD on the front in English and Spanish! Oak Lawn looks like a ghetto getting those in the mail! Dan, if you look at the statistics, high end stores are making money, low end stores are making money and middle of the road stores are NOT making money. Trader Joes and higher end stores like it made a ton of money through this recession. So, put that in your pipe and smoke it! If you want lower end crappy stores like Gold Buying stores, you will pay higher taxes!!! Don't be so crude. People can voice their opinions. There's no need to get snippy and rude. There's no need for cursing either. On another note........Thanks for the clarification for all of us Tim and Lorraine! It's much appreciated.
Dan
8:30 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Right but all those great looking liquor store fronts help the look of Oak lawn.
Like you have never seen instructions in Spanish and English.So should we get rid of all the Mexican restaurants also in oak lawn because the are own by Spanish people?Or how about the nail places that are owned by Asians or the chines restaurants.
Sounds like some one has a nationality problem.How does oak lawn look ghetto by getting those mailers? If the guy was not making money why the hell would he want to open another store ?The only reason i so called get snippy and rude is because some people think that there shit does not stink and they are better than every one else and the way it sounds from you me if that is your real name because you are afraid to use your own name and that your nose is hitting the ceiling.
I know how about another Hooters because they bring great customes to there resurant and police never go there.
Dan
12:39 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Right but all those great looking liquor store fronts help the look of Oak lawn.
Like you have never seen instructions in Spanish and English.So should we get rid of all the Mexican restaurants also in oak lawn because the are own by Spanish people?Or how about the nail places that are owned by Asians or the chines restaurants.
Sounds like some one has a nationality problem.How does oak lawn look ghetto by getting those mailers? If the guy was not making money why the hell would he want to open another store ?The only reason i so called get snippy and rude is because some people think that there shit does not stink and they are better than every one else and the way it sounds from you me if that is your real name because you are afraid to use your own name and that your nose is hitting the ceiling.
Dan
8:33 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I know how about another Hooters because they bring great customes to there resurant and police never go there.