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Council approves 7 Brew Coffee permit with conditions on signage and LED lighting
Summary
Oak Park Heights council approved a PUD amendment and conditional-use permits for a new 7 Brew Coffee at the former Ruby Tuesday site, allowing a south-facing sign and permitting LED strip lighting only if fully shielded and full-cutoff; construction expected this summer.
The Oak Park Heights City Council on Tuesday approved a planned unit development amendment, conditional-use permits and site-plan review for a new 7 Brew Coffee at the Shops at Oak Park Heights, replacing the former Ruby Tuesday building.
Planning staff told the council the proposal, presented by Mike Gustafson on behalf of Cooper Coffee Minnesota, would demolish the existing structure and construct a new building in the B2 district. Staff said setbacks and building height comply with the code, the site provides about 63 parking stalls (19 required) and a stacking lane for roughly 18 cars, and Browns Creek Watershed District review will be required for grading and drainage.
The council applied two substantive changes before voting. Councilmembers agreed to delete a condition limiting “building color wraps” and instead allow LED or neon strip lighting only if it is “fully shielded and full cut off,” language planning staff read into the record. Councilmember Runck also proposed a friendly amendment to allow a fourth, south-facing sign on the building to improve visibility from the frontage road; the council agreed that any sign would still be subject to the city’s square-footage limits and permit review.
The motion to approve the PUD amendment, conditional-use permits and site plan with the amended conditions passed on a roll call vote. Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Ellegard, Councilmember Runck, Councilmember Swenson and the Mayor voted yes.
Mike Gustafson and the applicant’s representative said construction permitting could move forward this spring and that, if permits and contractor sequencing allow, work could start in early summer. The applicant estimated the stick-frame building could be completed quickly, cited staffing plans of about 40–50 employees with 10–14 on-site at peak times, and said proposed business hours would roughly be 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
What happens next: staff will update resolution language in the final document for the record and the city will review signage during the sign-permit process. Browns Creek Watershed District engineering approval remains a precondition to final permits.
Council recorded the final approvals in the meeting minutes and welcomed the businesses to the city.
