Plan commission approves conditional use permit for Happy Face Cooking Space teaching kitchen

The Cedarburg Plan Commission on March 2 approved a conditional use permit for Happy Face Cooking Space to operate a teaching kitchen and a small‑scale commercial kitchen at 14280 Doorway, Suite 104.

Planner Mary (planning staff) told the commission the permit would be issued to applicant Sally Wagner and must also be signed by the property owner, Doorway East LLC (care of Joe Cassandra). The draft permit includes standard conditions: daily removal of kitchen waste, screened dumpster enclosure to be designed within 40 days of approval, and adherence to all required federal, state and local licenses and permits. The staff report said any significant modifications would require commission approval and that failure to remedy substantiated adverse impacts could lead to permit revocation.

Wagner, who identified herself as one of the executive directors of Happy Face Cooking Space, said she already holds an occupancy permit for the space as a teaching kitchen but is working with the plumbing and building inspectors to determine whether adding equipment such as a dishwasher would necessitate a different occupancy classification. Mary said the building inspector indicated that adding grease traps, hoods or grills could trigger a different occupancy permit and separate inspection; if no structural or mechanical changes occur the existing occupancy might suffice.

Commissioner (speaker 5) moved to approve the additional use permit; a second followed and the commission approved the permit on a voice vote with no recorded opposition. The permit includes the landscaping and trash conditions and the requirement that appropriate occupancy permits be secured before any expanded commercial cooking begins.

The commission did not approve any new signage as part of the request. The applicant and property owner must satisfy the conditions before the expanded commercial operations can start.