Planning commission approves Wild Thistle Cafe beer-and-wine permit for Main Street

The Santaquin City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit allowing Wild Thistle Cafe to operate a Class C limited-service alcohol license at 77 West Main Street.

Planning staff described the permit as a conditional use in the Main Street Business District that would allow alcohol sales where food sales still account for roughly 70% of revenue. Aspen, planning staff, told the commission the application meets the code’s conditional-use process for the Main Street district. “So 70% of the sales would still come from a sale of food,” Aspen said during the presentation. The applicant, Chesley Cortes, confirmed the business would serve only beer and wine: “So it wouldn’t be any, like, full alcohol…Just beer and wine.”

Commissioners asked a few clarifying questions about the zoning change and the applicant’s operations. Commissioner Christopher moved to approve the permit; Commissioner Russell seconded. Chair Trevor called the roll and recorded unanimous support from Commissioners Johnson, Wood, Christopher and Russell. The chair then instructed staff to finish signing the conditional use permit; Aspen said the signed permit should be ready by the following day.

The approval allows Wild Thistle Cafe to proceed with any required building permits and local licensing steps for its expanded beverage service. Staff noted the approval is a land-use determination; any required state alcohol licensing remains a separate process.

Next steps: staff will finalize and sign the conditional use permit and notify the applicant; the restaurant may proceed with required administrative steps for beverage licensing.