Council advances 7 Brew

STEVENS POINT — After hitting opposition and roadblocks, the Common Council has approved a conditional use permit to 7 Brew Coffee to construct a building located at 532 Division Street.
During the June Plan Commission meeting, commissioners were split over allowing 7 Brew to construct due to the large setback from the road. On Division Street, there is a standard five-foot-setback, meaning new buildings are meant to be constructed five feet away from the road. 7 Brew would require a 48-foot-setback to accommodate drive thru lanes. Commissioners shared concerns about making Division Street less pedestrian friendly and wanting to be careful about how the last vacant lot may be used. Ultimately, the conditional use permit received a 3-3 vote.
During the June Common Council meeting, council members ended up delaying their vote due to a missing document.
A Special Common Council meeting was held on June 24 to vote on 7 Brew’s conditional use permit after the earlier delay.
Alders Kneebone, Olson, and Guthrie voiced their opposition for the project, stating that the building did not meet the master plan’s recommendation to reduce curb cuts and promote mixed-use development, concern over less parking spaces available than there will be employees, and concern for traffic safety.

Alderperson Lang echoed some of the opposition. He showed support for following the Division Street master plan that calls for the five-foot setback and mixed use developments. “If we are going to make these plans I’d like to see that we stick to it.” Lang said.
Other council members supported the project due to the lot having been vacant for years. The city attorney, however, informed the council that since the applicant reasonably satisfied the ordinance’s standards, the city was legally bound to approve the conditional use permit. Wisconsin state statutes restrict the denial of conditional use permits based on obstacles such as neighborhood concerns, aesthetic preferences, economic viability, or preference for a different project.
The conditional use permit was ultimately approved to 7 Brew Coffee in a 7-3 vote, with alders Kneebone, Olson, and Guthrie voting against it.