Planning Commission recommends Cafe Tetay special-use permit with conditions and hours to council

The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a special-use permit (SP-2509) for a proposed cafe, Cafe Tetay, at 427 Milton Avenue in the Cayuga neighborhood, with several special conditions and hours to be reviewed by the Common Council.

Jeff Pawlowski, architect for the applicant, said the existing building will be upgraded to meet current zoning standards and that the project team had updated plans to reflect recent city sidewalk and green-space work in the right-of-way. The applicant proposed hours of operation of 6 a.m.–11 a.m. for breakfast service, then a break and reopening at noon for lunch and dinner service until 9 p.m., seven days a week; the commission instructed staff to list those hours for the Common Council to consider.

Staff recommended, and the commission included in its motion, special conditions: obtain an encroachment permit for an existing ground sign in the right of way (if applicable), prohibit illegal parking on Cayuga Street, and address all city-department concerns listed in the staff packet prior to council review. The commission completed SEQR review (negative declaration) before the recommendation vote; the matter will now go to the Common Council for final action.