Editor's Note: Consideration of the special use permit for the Clubhouse Indoor Golf and Lounge was deferred at the Board of Adjustment's Sept. 12 meeting. No date was set for consideration of the permit, and no reasons were given at the meeting for the deferral.
More than a year ago, the Clubhouse Indoor Golf and Lounge at 18th St. and 53rd Ave. ran into a storm of protest from neighbors when it sought a special use permit for an outdoor patio and the request was voted down by the Bettendorf Board of Adjustment.
The indoor golf and lounge will return to the city board Thursday (9/12) with a similar request in hopes that moving the patio from the rear to the front of the building will satisfy the board and neighbors.
Commercial developments on the southeast corner of 18th St. and 53rd Ave. have a long and often heated relationship with neighborhood residents who dislike the noise, lights and traffic from businesses in the area. The commercial property abuts residential property – the result of the city rezoning property initially zoned office transitional for residential development than 20 years ago.
Most recently, a special use permit request to allow an auto service center at the corner of 18th St. and 53rd Ave. drew the concern of neighbors. That permit eventually was approved. The new McDonald's Restaurant along 53rd Avenue and west of 18th Street also ran into opposition from neighbors, but that development was approved after reconfiguration of the restaurant site layout.
The city staff is recommending approval of the new Clubhouse request based on the relocation of the patio and the experience from allowing a similar outdoor serving area at a nearby pizza restaurant.
