DeKalb Times

At its Feb. 27 meeting, DeKalb City Council was presented with a request from a local developer for another extension for its licensure. 

Petitioners Jeff Dobie and Jeff Richardson of Blue Ridge LLC, are proposing a video game and bar establishment at1221 W. Lincoln Highway. They received licenses for the liquor license and video game operations back in 2018 when they began the construction process. They have since received three different extensions from council for these licenses, as they have not been able to begin operations. 

The first one-year extension was granted in 2020 when construction was shut down by state mandate due to the pandemic. Another year extension, plus an additional six months grace period, was approved in 2021 when they began development, and the final year extension was given in February of 2022, with the condition that it would be the last extension granted barring submission of substantial plans and progress on the development.

Nicklas suggested a short extension of 60-90 days so that the petitioner could receive a building permit, which requires near completion of the project within six months, which would land right around the end of the construction period this year.

“I'll just be very emphatic,” city manager Bill Nicklas said. “I see no harm in allowing the extension on the basis of this because it looks like we're going to see something tangible as a result of it. And I think that's good for the community.”

Council ended up tabling the discussion to the next meeting, giving the petitioner time to bring some more plans and submissions to the board before it officially extends the licensure.

In other business, council voted to pay approximately $2.8 million in bills and payroll.

Council will meet again at 6 p.m. on Monday at the DeKalb Public Library’s Yusunas meeting room at 309 Oak St.