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Brookhaven council approves Seven Brew conditional use despite applicant objections on noise condition
Summary
The Brookhaven Borough Council approved a conditional-use permit for Seven Brew on June 1, 2026, imposing conditions on lighting, buffers and initial traffic control; the applicant declined a proposed requirement that amplified sound be inaudible at the property line. A zoning hearing is scheduled June 9.
Brookhaven Borough Council approved a conditional-use application for a proposed brewpub known as Seven Brew after the applicant agreed to multiple operational conditions but declined a solicitor-proposed noise requirement.
The vote came after the applicant’s representative, Mr. Algio, told the council the owner would maintain shared driveway access, consult with neighbors on vegetative buffering and install shielded lighting, and hire a police detail during the first days of operation to manage traffic. "We would absolutely consult with them," Mr. Algio said, referring to nearby residents.
Council members and staff emphasized that approval at Tuesday’s meeting is an early land-use step. Mr. Katana and others reminded the public that preliminary and final land-development applications and a separate zoning hearing board review remain. The council noted the zoning hearing board will consider related variances at a June 9 meeting in borough hall.
A point of contention arose when the solicitor read proposed conditions that would require the applicant to "manage the direction and volume of all unamplified sound so it is not audible at the boundaries" and to comply with the borough noise ordinance. According to the transcript, the applicant said that particular condition "wasn't a condition that they would be agreeable to." The council nevertheless approved the conditional-use application with the conditions identified by the solicitor and engineer.
Neighbors raised traffic and safety concerns during public comment. Mike Rubenstein, a Ridge Boulevard resident, urged the borough and the operator to put "safety before profit," saying the proposed morning vehicle queue could interfere with school bus operations near Barlo and Ridge and could affect SEPTA route stops.
Council members said they expect ongoing traffic and noise monitoring during subsequent land-development review and that the borough’s traffic engineer will evaluate traffic-calming measures, potential turning-radius changes and signal timing at nearby intersections. The applicant agreed to re-evaluate traffic impact after an initial months-long operating period and to cooperate with the borough’s traffic review.
Next steps for the project include the zoning hearing board appearance on June 9 and subsequent preliminary and final land-development reviews. Council approval on June 1 was recorded as a conditional-use approval; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally in names or numbers for the vote.
