ROCHELLE — Rochelle City Council gave the nod Monday to Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, approving the annexation and development agreements.

The decision came nearly a week after the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend city council to approve the 17-acre project at the corner of Ill. Rte. 251 and Interstate 88.

As part of the agreement, the property will be rezoned to B-2 to allow construction of a travel stop, convenience store, Hardees restaurant, Chester’s Chicken, passenger and semi-truck fueling, truck parking, and a tire shop.

Love’s had asked for variances regarding the municipal sign height, interior parkways and plantings, height of the fuel canopies, and setbacks for the parking area.

Included in the agreement is the installation of water and sewer by Love’s Travel Stops along with the widening of Steward Road. The City of Rochelle is to contribute $350,000 to be used for traffic signals and other intersection improvements at Ill. Rte. 251 and Steward Road, payable over three years.

Distillery

City council approved an ordinance granting a special use permit that allows the owners of Kennay Farms Distilling to construct a 37-foot wide balcony on the front of the building located at 416 Lincoln Highway, formerly the Hub Theater.

The Kennay’s petitioned the city to allow the balcony, which would extend seven feet out in front overhanging the sidewalk. In a special meeting earlier Monday, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend the council to approve the permit. The commission based their findings on the fact the balcony would not be detrimental to public health, not impair property values, not impede surrounding development, and not impair light or air nor congest streets and endanger public health.