Call to order. >> Can we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liy and justice for all. >> Uh, let's address a roll call. >> Commissioner No here. Commissioner Treml >> here. >> Commissioner Casey
>> here. >> Commissioner Schmolki is absent. Commissioner Ronak >> here. >> Vice Chair Knoblock >> here. >> And Chair Schwarz is absent tonight. >> Welcome to the what? December 18. >> Oh yes. Uh welcome to the December 18th
uh planning commission agenda. Uh do we have a motion to adopt the agenda? I so move that we adopt the agenda. >> I second. >> Uh motion presented by Commissioner
Casey, a second by uh >> Commissioner Ra. >> Uh Commissioner Raek. >> Uh next course of action is the approval of Let's address the approval. >> Yes. >> I think we need to go all in favor on
>> Oh, approving that. Uh all in favor >> I I >> those uh not enough not in favor. >> So moved. >> Uh next course uh the approval of minutes of the previous meeting
September 18th, 2025. >> Mr. Chair. Um, >> yes. >> Move that or propose or move that we postpone the approval of those minutes from September 18th because there is not a quorum of the members present at that
meeting. So, if we could prop post postpone it till next month. >> Who will is there a seconder for that motion? >> Second. >> Uh, commission move forward by Commissioner Casey, second by Commissioner Treble.
All in favor? >> All in favor? >> I I >> against. So moved uh the approve the minutes of the meeting to be addressed at the next
scheduled planning commission meeting. Uh course of action for tonight is uh planning commission 25-14 site plan 7 brew coffee 12792 Riverdale
Boulevard Northwest Cuber Coffee Minnesota LLC planner Max Pson. >> Thank you Mr. Chair, members of the planning commission. Um, so I have before you uh a site plan request tonight for a new drive-thru coffee shop
at the Riverdale Village site at 12792 Riverdale Boulevard. So, the applicant is Quber Coffee. They are the um owners of of Seven Brew Coffee and they're looking to uh build a drive-through coffee stand on the Riverdale Village property, which is owned by NADG
Riverdale Village. So, this is the large property that covers most of the Riverdale development, north of Main Street and east of Round Lake Boulevard. And they're proposing to put it um on the south end of the property, just east of the Vitamin Shop and just west of the
Sierra building, which um would have also been the Amazon Fresh building, formerly JC Penney building. Um that's on the southeast corner of the site. Um so, access to the site would be generally uh via River Rapids Drive. So, um, cars would be turning off of Main
Street onto River Rapids Drive and accessing it that way. There's also access to the site off of Riverdale Boulevard to the east. Um, but that access is much further north and a little bit further away from the site where this uh drive-through coffee stand is being proposed. Um, so
what's being proposed would be two separate buildings that would be right next to each other, um, totaling 920 ft. So, one 510 foot service building um where orders baristas are taking and filling orders and then one 410T storage and refrigerator building where
ingredients are being stored. Um the footprint of the entire site is 19,000 ft. So, the vast majority of the site is parking stacking um pedestrian walkways uh and landscaped area as well as a trash enclosure. So, most of the site is not taken up by the buildings
themselves. So, this is in in the the the way that it's built generally a coffee stand rather than like a coffee shop that someone would walk into. And I do believe the applicant is here tonight and they can address this, but I do believe that there will not be any um any customer access into the building.
So, it really is a drive up use only. Um, so they're proposing to put uh mechanical equipment for the building on top of the service building behind a parapet wall and a dumpster enclosure at the north end of the site near the entrance to the two-lane stacking area. Um, and the north end of the site is
generally the back of the site here. The front of the building would face south toward Main Street. Back of the building would face north toward um the east west section of uh River Rapids Drive. So in terms of drive-thru and stacking,
so what's being proposed is 24 stacking spaces essentially in two drive lanes. So vehicles would enter the site on the very northwest, drive south, and then have their order taken um near the front of the the stacking area by um order
takers who are out of the building with an iPad that will come up to your car and take your order that way. and then drinks would be brought to the cars by those order takers. So, it's similar to Chick-fil-A um setup where rather than a talk box where you make uh make your
order and then pick it up at the window afterwards, um you'd be interacting with people out out on the street standing there. Um so, the the business employs, I believe they said, um seven to 10 employees at a time during a shift, and they have two shifts per day. um based
on demand and how busy they expected to be. Um they can uh kind of raise the number of employees or I think move employees between sites um if more employees are needed on site at the time. And then they do have um are
expecting um high levels of business uh during the grand opening at which time they're proposing about 20 employees on site to handle the the higher um volume of of vehicles coming through. So, uh, vehicles would enter the site on the
northwest, travel through the stacking spaces, have their order taken and their drinks brought to them, and then come back north and leave the site on the very northeast corner, and then either turn left back toward River Rabbits Drive or turn right and go north toward the Riverdale Boulevard um, public right
away access. So, I included the layouts of the buildings. They're very simple. Um the service building would have a drink making area. It's it's less than a kitchen, but it is, you know, essentially a drink kitchen, a
restrooms, and then a mechanical room above it. Um and then the storage building would just have um dry storage as as well as a cooler. So, in terms of exterior building materials, staff do find that the building materials do conform with the requirements of the commercial districts
and the requirements of the um regional shopping zoning district, which this site is in. um in that the materials used for the exterior of the building are approved building materials. It's a nichiha fiber cement faux brick. Um any sighting material that's high quality
and appears like brick um is a considered a permitted sighting material in the Riverdale Village District. Um and the variation in colors does meet the requirement that different materials are used. The city code states that different colors of brick do count as
different materials as far as aesthetics are concerned. Um so what's being proposed mostly is beige and black um niha fiber cement sighting as well as windows on the south east and west sides of the building. Um signage uh would be approved by separate sign permits.
What's being shown here um it would would not um completely conform to sign code because the west side of the building doesn't face a parking lot or right ofway. So signage would not be allowed on that side of the building. That's something that they would be able to um request a variance and if a
variance were approved um you know that might be a route for them to get signage on that side of the building. But otherwise that's not um something that that conforms to zoning code. And then here's an image of the west side and then the rear north side of the building. So the rear of the building
would have the trash enclosure um as well as be generally the side of the building that's meant to face away from the public as much as possible. Um a bike rack is also proposed uh at the rear side of the building. So I have a diagram here. It might might be easy to see, it might not, but this was what the
applicant provided in terms of showing um circulation on site in order to reach the um the seven brew coffee stand and and exit. So vehicles coming off of Main Street would turn right onto uh Riverdale or sorry, River Rapids Drive
going north and then turn right going east toward the site and then another right turn south into the stacking area. And then vehicles leaving, that's the red line here, could either make left turns out to Riverdale Boulevard to get onto Main Street, which is the shortest
distance. It's about 450 ft. Um the alternative would be to go north, turn left out of the site and then go north um toward the River Dale Boulevard um exit and that's a little bit further north. It's further away but has mostly right turns instead of left turns. So
it's feasible that some vehicles leaving the site would choose that instead of the shorter distance to get onto Main Street. But the applicant is expecting that most vehicles would be exiting via River Rapids Drive onto Main Street. And the applicant also provided and this was
provided today so I haven't had a chance to look at it closely. Fortunately the applicant is here and might be able to speak on some of the specifics of this but they are expecting when they first open to have more traffic than um you know the rest of their operating time.
Um so they do have a contingency traffic plan for situations in which there's significantly more volume than average. Um and that's what they're showing here. So they they would be having um employees that are out there taking
orders also directing traffic and making sure that traffic follows these routes um to ensure that they're not um backing up onto any public rideway, blocking the entrance to the Chase Bank or the Vitamin Shop or anything like that. Um I can't go over in detail exactly what's
being shown here, but the applicant might be able to provide a little bit more detail on what they're showing. What is expected is that this would occur possibly on opening day and potentially no other time, but they do have that contingency plan in place in case there is extremely high volume.
Um, in terms of parking on site, any coffee shop in the city does require 25 parking spaces. Um, there is a lot of parking in the Riverdale Village area. um for parking spaces that are easily accessible to this site. Uh this is pretty much shared between the this site here, what would be the Seven Brew and
the Sierra Amazon Fresh C Penney building, which is a retail building. Um about 3003 or sorry, not about 330 spaces um are set up to access both of those uses. Um and then I calculated that 315 spaces would be required for
the 290 spaces for that retail use just to the northeast and then 25 spaces for this use. and they're removing a net 15 spaces um as part of this site plan providing 13 spaces removing 28 spaces um leading to negative 15 spaces in
total. Um and then in terms of landscaping um originally I had commented that the landscaping requirements were not met. The applicant did provide an updated site plan um this Monday that does show um the landscaping requirements being met. So that's three or two overstory trees, three trees
along the street frontage on Main Street and 24 shrubs, all of which are are shown, the three street trees are existing, the two overstory trees north of the building and the shrubs along the south side of the building fronting Main Street. Um so as far as staff
presentation, that's all I have. Um I did make a couple of edits to the proposed um or the recommended conditions here on this um sheet. So, if a motion is to be made, I would recommend um using these conditions. I I
made a typo on the staff report for one thing, the planning case number is wrong. And then I also noted where two of the conditions were met and added a last condition that um all plans receive approval from NADG Riverdale Village, the property owner before city building permits can be released. So, we do just
want to make sure that um the property owner is is on board with everything before the city approves any building permits. Um so, I did add that as a condition. Um that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh planner u plans, is the
applicant willing to make a statement or presentation? >> I believe to come up and answer any questions. >> Yeah, please come up to the mic. give your name and address for the record. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Good evening. Uh my name is Zach
Hang. Um I am from JLL Brokerage. I represent 7 Brew locally here as their broker. My address is in Blaine, uh 12966 Jewel Circle, Northeast Blaine. Um, does the commission have any
questions for the applicant or any questions in general? >> Commissioner, >> I want to thank you. >> Yeah. >> For opening up a business in Rapids. I don't know if anybody has Thank you, but the city needs new
and quality businesses, and I thank you. >> Yeah, you're very welcome. Fun fact, I'm actually a 2004 alumni of Kun Rapids High School. So, great to be back in my hometown tonight. Good to be with you guys. >> Yeah,
>> Mr. Chair, >> uh, Commissioners, >> I have a a couple questions. Are there other seven brews in the metro area? >> Great question. Um, so we represent the Cuber Coffee. Um, they have the the Metro territory which includes 50 pins
is what we call it, locations. um that we are planning to roll out in the next five to six years. Um locally here we have 10 signed leases. Um what that means is they're all in variations of stages similar to this or they're under construction. So Vadness Heights would
be the first one open. Um that's right in front of Target by the top 10 liquor, the excess land there. Um we are actually dropping our building tomorrow. So, if you have a little free time around noon, you can see a building being dropped on um to that piece of
land tomorrow. Apple Valley Orchard Place right by the London Barley's there. Um that will be our second location. We are just waiting for permits which we expect to get any day now. Um so that'll be number two. And then Minnetonka 101 and 7. Um Kitty Corner from the Target there. Um we had
city council full approval just last week. So those will be probably the first three open Q2 of next year. Q1, Q2. Um, so you'll see that today. Um, outside of the metro, St. Cloud recently opened right in front of the Crossroads
Mall. Um, but Minci has been open for almost a year now. Uh, Morehead recently opened, um, I would say four months ago. Um, and then we have a couple sprinkled down in Wisconsin. So, um, this could very well be the third one in the metro open.
>> Okay. And excuse me, but you said Badness Heights. Yes. And Apple Valley. And there was a third one. Would that were you talking about the Rapids one? >> Excuse me. Minnitankka. Yeah, Minnitanka. This could be this could be number four. >> Okay. So, we would be number four. Well, it's a unique concept, you know, to have
the baristas outside. >> And can you clarify for me a little bit? I know the location >> and the flow, but so where are the baristas? Are they on the south side of the building or the east side of the building? >> Yeah. Um, let me just make sure I I have
my bearings right. So, they would be on >> the east side of the building. >> Yeah, that's kind of what the drawing showed. And I was >> But there'll be windows on the south side just to look out on Main Street. >> Correct. Yep. Just to make it a little more visibly appealing.
>> But the the baristas are on the east side. And then customers are they take their order, they they pay for it at the car there. Is that the idea? >> Correct. Yep. When they pick up their order. >> Yep.
>> Okay. And then and then they go to a spot to wait for it to be brought out. >> Yeah. So, so typically how it works is, you know, they'll kind of queue into the drive-thru, call it from the the north here. And as they're making the corner, right when they stop, um, kind of call it on the east side of the building,
there'll probably be like four stations or just, you know, spaces that have a striped say stop right there. Um, that's where the baristas will come out, um, give you your drink, you know, communicate with you, have a, you know, just have a little conversation and also give you your drink, take your payment,
then off you go. 40, 45 seconds, something like that typically. And then before that, you know, the brewistas are coming out there um, and taking your orders with an iPad. So, they're actively proactively going, working the line to make sure that once you get up to the to the pickup uh, checkout area,
you're just off and going. So, very seamless. >> Okay. So they're not just waiting for the cars to drive up. They're working their way down. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Interesting. >> Yeah. >> Um Yeah. Okay. Well, that kind of answers my question there. >> Sure.
>> Mr. Chair, you um talked about the building being dropped on site. Prefab buildings that are just >> Yeah. So, so typically it's it's prefab building. This might be a stick building. Um you know, to be determined. Brian Evans will be able to talk about that a little bit more. max I think when
we get further along the plans. Um, but to date, most of the seven brews are prefab. So, they drop them down in a couple hours, takes them a few days to connect everything and then they come in, they build out. Um, so pretty seamless. A lot of the time, um, we're
spending on the ground work and getting infrastructure ready to drop the building. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, you're welcome. >> I have a question for the applicant. Sure. Um, hours of operation in general. >> Yes. Uh, hours of operations, I have that here. I don't want to misspeak. I
believe it is 5 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. um, Sunday through Thursday and then 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Yeah. So early morning um you know they they the busiest times will be from 9 to
10 and anywhere from like 2 to 3 p.m. So in the afternoon you kind of get that rush of people needing like extra jump throughout the day. >> And then I have one last question. Um has there been an in regards and this might be a question also for planner
Patner. Um does that fall into the engineering or the sustainability in regards to lighting >> kind of follows on the hours of operation does with >> cheer now that does um fall so dark sky compliant lighting does fall under the
um sustainability comments. So >> um that that would be addressed in in that section. >> Wonderful. Do we have any more questions for the applicant? I'm going to have some questions of Max, but I don't know if it's pertinent now or
>> so with uh no further questions from the commission, uh we need to call a public hearing. Is there anyone here to h ask questions or make a statement before the commission in regarding to uh 2514?
>> Not to the commission. I'm I'm Patty. We have not met yet. I'm property manager. Oh, good to meet you. >> Patty, excuse me. I'm sorry. Do you mind approaching the podium? >> Oh, sure. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah. >> Yeah. As you approach the podium, when you get to the microphone, please provide your name and full address for
the record. >> Um, I'm Patty um Hel with Riverdale Village. I'm the property manager and the address of the center is 12761 Riverdale Boulevard, sweet 104 Rapids. Um, I mostly just wanted to
introduce myself and let it be known that Riverdale was here um, representing um, my right now we have not received any plans or anything that we haven't had any communication. So, um, I thought it was
important to be here and see what's shaken. Um, so I don't really have any questions for you guys, but I guess I just that's unless you had questions for me. Is that is that unusual not to have >> Yes. >> received plants?
>> Very. Yeah. So, >> all right. Um, thank you for your comments. Um, I guess I'll open and close the public hearing since uh there was no one or actually that was Thank
you. caught myself. Um, so now it's um, uh, >> I'm sorry if you don't mind. >> Um, please, >> you might just make sure that there's no one else who who wishes to speak at the public hearings since I've noticed there are others in the audience. >> Very well. Is there anyone else a
president who wishes to make a statement before the commission before the a vote or decision is made? If there's none, I'll close the public hearing. And now it's before the
planning commission. And if uh for the commission to be I'll be open to hear if there's any motions and any seconds in regards to uh the recommendation about uh planning case 22-5
25-14 >> 25-14. Well, I still have a question of before we go to the motion for, >> of course, Commissioner Run. Any >> uh Max, who owns the property? >> NADG Riverdale. >> Pardon?
>> Um, Commissioner Ryak, NADG Riverdale Village is the company that owns the property and I believe uh if I understand correctly, Patty Hel is the property manager for that company. >> Is that for the whole shopping center? >> It is. It's for almost the entire shopping center with a a few carveouts.
Solar Salons isn't part of that. There are a couple other businesses that aren't, but the most most of them are >> because one of the questions I have is when it comes to parking. Now the seven brew is not capable of furnishing
parking. So it had to come from someplace which has a surplus of parking someplace. Uh, I would have thought that they would have also been a party here in a petition to the city to rent this
space to seven brew and indicate that they have a surplus to cover the parking they're going to need for Seven Brew. uh other than having it as a conditional approval of seven brew furnishing and parking I think it this is being handled
sort of you have a tenant and a lot of the other ones we've dealt with were owners so they could provide their own parking they could provide the own thing where here as a tenant we should have been talking to the property owner in regards to parking
saying that you have to have enough parking parking in order to in order to rent this to this individ to seven brew because they can't furnish the parking. Same with the traffic patterns. Seven Brew has no control over the traffic
patterns. The owner will have to furnish the traffic pattern and make it acceptable to both to the city and that. And again, in this case, because you're dealing with a tenant, it's sort of a little awkward situation. You put a lot
of burden on the tenant. and he can't basically solve any of it. So, I would have thought that we should have had at least the owner involved a little bit in here indicating yes, they can do the parking, which you did do. And they same with the
parking pan that it's agreeable and everything like that. So, when you're dealing with tenants versus owners, it's a little different situation. I hear I thought it was a little clumsy, but that's okay. >> So, Mr. Chair.
>> Yes. >> Uh, Commissioner Ranak, we don't get to choose who the applicants are and so what's before the commission is the application the city received. >> Okay. Thank you, City Attorney Buchi.
Uh, does the commission have any further statements or questions in regards to this motion or in regards to this planning case? Mr. Chair, >> uh, Commissioner, no. >> It seems like if you look at the site,
um, it's kind of a void back there. So, it seems like a good spot for this type of use. And the ingress and egress seems to me would be a little more efficient than the one that was approved across the road, which is a little tighter, if you will. Um, at that location, I mean,
currently, right now, it's storing snowpack. So, there's there's an opportunity there. I think my my only concern is, you know, the applicant and the owner don't seem to have spoke. Um, but obviously that's part of the uh
conditions in our amendment packet. So, that being said, I would propose in planning case 25-14 that we approve the proposed site plan subject the to the amended conditions as shown on our screen here, 11 of them.
Uh, thank you, Commissioner. No, before we uh before I entertain a second to for that, I'd like to add to um to Commissioner Platner that in in the recommendation, it's it's just a
minor correction. It says 22-5. Of course, it's 25-14. And of course that the new minutes will have item number 11 which commissioner no referenced but is that all plans receive approval from the property owner
before city building permits can be released. So that will be on the record then and then that's that's it for me now uh with commissioner no's recommendation. Is there a seconder?
>> I second. Commissioner uh Turma. Uh now >> any discussion? >> Yes. Thank you. Any discussion by the commission? >> Um yes. I I wanted to bring up what Commissioner No ended on with the
communication between >> Commissioner Key. >> The um yes between the um Riverdale and the and the applicant. Is that when when is that addressed? >> Uh chair chair NB block if I may. Um
Commissioner Gohead. Thank you, Commissioner Casey. Um it it does vary from sight to sight. We have some property owners that um are um content to let the city process go first and then um kind of go through their process
with a tenant afterwards. Um, NADG Riverdale, I think, usually goes through their process first before um, an applicant comes to the the planning commissioner comes to the city. In this case, I believe the applicant came to the city um, first uh, of their own
accord. They had already um, started discussing I believe leasing agreements with the applicant but had not shown them building plans yet. Um generally as far as our process is concerned we do if there are any changes that are required from the property owner for the site um
in order to satisfy their conditions depending on the scale of the changes basically if it's um under I believe it's 30% of the site um we have the ability to approve those administratively so approving those changes as part of a building permit.
Say for example, a building was shifted over a couple feet or the trash enclosure was shifted or something like that and it still meets all code requirements. Um staff would have the ability to approve that as part of the building permit. If it's over 30% of the site, they would need to bring it back through the planning commission process.
Because of that, usually an applicant would want to make sure that they're all good to go with the property owner before coming through the planning commission process. In this case, it seems like they chose to to go through the city first. >> I see. I wasn't aware of all the the various processes. So,
um that was mainly my question. So, I I'm glad to see a new innovative business on U plans coming to the city and it does seem pretty unique. I'll be trying it out. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Casey. Uh, now what we have I'm still if there aren't any further questions by >> Do you have a motion on the board? >> I have a motion by Commissioner. No. Is there a second? >> Tony. >> Oh, Tony. Okay. Are are we ready to Are
we ready? >> Got a vote on that motion. >> Yes. Uh, >> any discussion? >> Yeah. Any further discussion? >> Close. Okay. Well, let us uh uh let us vote.
Those in uh in favor I >> I >> I >> those against. >> Okay. So moved uh as voted by the as a decision by the planning commission
that uh planning commission case 25-14 site plant for seven brew coffee is so approved to go before the city council >> in January. Chair Nblock, this is a decision by the planning commission. Uh
the city council would be able to hear an appeal on this, but it does not need to go to the city council. >> Thank you. And um so moved is that's over. All right. Uh that concludes our No,
>> you got to have a motion to approve the 24- 25-14. >> Okay. >> It automatically goes to the council. >> Okay. Yes. Uh so uh planning commission 25-14 has been
approved. >> It is >> by the planning commission to be moved forward. >> Chair Nlock. >> Yes. Uh city attorney Biconei. >> It's been approved and it will be a right of appeal is available but this
was a final decision of the planning commission. So >> very good. >> And I think Mr. Patner does have some other business for the the commission. >> Yes, planner Patner, you have the mic. >> Thank you, Chair Nlock, plan
commissioners. Um, >> yep. I just wanted to go over a couple items really quick. Um, just give you a preview of what we have um in terms of applications for the January meeting and then just one new business update. Um, so nothing too big. Um, so we do have an application in for the January planning
commission meeting for a planned unit development and a preliminary plat request for the balcony farms site. So that's the southern balcony sod farm site at Main Street in Shannidoa Boulevard. The applicant is requesting approval of a plat for 29 single family
homes. Um, and they are proposing to fit them on the very very south end of the Balcony Sod Farm site. That's a relatively wet site, so there's not much dry land to use. um as one single culde-sac with 29 homes. So that is what we will be discussing at the January
meeting. Um I also have just uh the former Wells Fargo building. Um I don't believe I knew this in September, so I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but they have a building permit application in to open a um an Asian grocery store at that location. So, the Wells Fargo building at 11550 Robinson Drive on
Robinson, just east of Hansen Boulevard, will, if everything goes well, have a new grocery store in it. All right, that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, uh, Planner Padson. Uh, is there any other business? Current development.
So, I I'm looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> To adjourn. >> Do I have a second? Uh motion by uh Commissioner Casey, seconded by Commissioner No. I
>> We are adjourned. >> We are adjourned. >> No, you got to vote. >> Oh, yes. Do we we have We have a motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor? >> All in favor? I
>> I So moved. Now hit it. >> Thank you.