The Minnetonka City Council granted a conditional use permit and approved final site and building plans for a 7 Brew drive‑through at 17501 Highway 7, a site within the County Road 101/Highway 7 village center. The drive‑through model uses two small service buildings (about 500 sq ft and 300 sq ft) with face‑to‑face order and pickup service — no customer lobby — and stacking for approximately 19 vehicles.

Staff noted the site work includes removal of some parking spaces, addition of parking islands and landscaping, installation of underground stormwater management (absent from much of the original 1970s development), and a striped bike connection to the Purgatory Creek trail. The city’s traffic consultant found the development would add about 104 daily eastbound trips on Highway 7 (roughly a 0.5% increase) and that average gaps are adequate for safe egress.

Planning Commission recommended approval following staff findings that the proposal complies with conditional‑use standards and that the site circulation and traffic impacts are negligible relative to the arterial volumes. During council discussion several members expressed discomfort about approving more drive‑through‑only businesses and suggested a future policy review to examine idling, environmental impacts and permitting standards for drive‑through uses. Councilor Calvert said she was “deeply uncomfortable” with approving a use that encourages vehicle idling, though she voted to approve with reservations; Council member Schack moved approval, seconded and the motion carried on roll call.

The applicant noted 7 Brew’s model typically includes a small covered outdoor picnic table at some sites and that staff will stripe the bike connection to the Purgatory trail as part of the permit conditions. Council indicated it will place drive‑through permitting and environmental impacts on a future study‑session agenda.