City of Oconomowoc - Club Porticello on Silver Lake in Oconomowoc had it's liquor license renewed for the upcoming year starting July 1, after paying $35,528 in delinquent real estate taxes by the 5p.m. June 30, deadline.

City of Oconomowoc ordinance states that a business cannot obtain a liquor license if it has delinquent tazes, assessments, or other claims outstanding, including money owed to alcohol vendors.

The Italian eatery's owner Tony Pipito, also agreed with the city to payback $10,000 of an $18,696 special attorney fee who represented the city during a series Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing in which Porticello sought out needed variances over the past few months that were needed to open the restaurant on the Silver Lake shore.  

Pipito has 90 days to pay the $10,000, according to the agreement.

City of Oconomowoc - Thursday night, city of Oconomowoc alderman told several Oconomowoc businesses, including the upscale Club Porticello restaurant on Silver Lake, that they need to pay off outstanding fees by June 30 or they would not be renewed their liquor license starting July 1.

Included in the group are the Olympia Sports Center and the future Blue Ribbon restaurant that will be located at the southwest corner of the Highway 67 and Valley Road intersection.

City of Oconomowoc ordinance states that a business cannot obtain a liquor license if they are found to have deliquent taxes, assesments or other claims outstanding including money owed to alcohol vendors.

Porticello, which was found to owe over $35,000 in taxes as well as over $18,000 in special council fees relating to the Board of Zoning Appeals meetings they have took part in while obtaining "area" and "use" variances in recent months, which allows the business to operate.

However, aldermen raised the concern on whether or not these fees should have to be paid by Porticello owner Tony Pipito as the money was for a special council attorney and not normal City Attorney Bill Chapman who often times sits in on the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings, but was not part of the Porticello appeal hearings due to what is said to be a conflict of interests.

The alderman motion for Porticello's case was that that Pipito and his Attorney Michael Krill will have to reach an agreement with the city that they will agree on a resolution determining whether or not Pipito is to pay for the special attorney fees, by June 30 as well.

Five other businesses either paid off outstanding fees prior to the Thursday night hearing, or else they arranged an agreement and payment plan with their utility provider like the Corner Stone Pub and Eatery has done in order to obtain their license by July 1, for the 2008-2009 year.

The new Maxim's at the Oconomowoc Depot was another business who will receive a license after paying outstanding fees. They however were not part of the hearing as they are a new business.

If the three business, Porticello, Blue Ribbon, and Olympia Sports Center do not pay their fees by June 30, they will not be renewed their license starting July 1, but it is still possible for them to reapply after this date and go through the application process again once their payments are cleared, assuming their is still licenses available at that time, accoroding to Oconomowco Mayor Maury Sullivan.

City of Oconomowoc - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has appealed the City of Oconomowoc Zoning Board of Appeals' decision to to give Club Porticello a needed "use" variance.

The variance was granted on March 31, in which it has 30 days for other parties to appeal.

The DNR lawsuit said the decision had some flaws in it based on statements made by the board, which the DNR stated at times seemed biased.
The suit alleges that a restaurant like Club Porticello is not permitted within a “lakeshore overlay district,” which includes a 75-foot high-water setback from the shoreline.

With the appeal pending, the Circuit Court has several options, according to one DNR representative, including remanding the use variance to the board by saying there are “holes” in it, or declaring the variance null and void.

The DNR said they also plan to appeal the recently granted area variances which near completely approves the restaurant, as soon as it becomes official with board signature.

City of Oconomowoc - The Oconomowoc Zoning Board of Appeals approved three area variances for Club Porticello last night, giving the upscale and controversial restaurant on Silver Lake near complete approval.

The boards granting allows owner, Milwauke based restaurateur Tony Pipito, the go ahead fto get an occupancy permit from the city which would put the retaurant in compliance with both the city and county.

After nearly three years of municipal, judicial and other state setbacks, Pipito opened the bar at Porticello April 28, and the resturant May 12, despite not having the area variances or occupancy permit to operate legally.

He received daily fines by the city for doing so.

Opponents such as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Silver Lake Environmental Association continued to fight against the approval of the restaurant at Wednesday's meeting claiming it will cause harmful environmental effects to the Silver Lake area as the building is just 17 feet away from the shoreline