On Nov. 20, 2025, the Minnetonka Planning Commission voted 4‑0 to recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution approving a conditional use permit and final site and building plans for a 7 Brew drive‑through at 17501 Highway 7. The council is scheduled to consider the recommendation at its Dec. 8 meeting.

Staff planner Drew Ingleson told the commission that staff recommends approval because the proposal meets the city’s zoning and site‑plan standards and because the site plan includes measures to address circulation, parking and stormwater. Ingleson described the property as roughly 12 acres with 482 shared parking spaces; the proposed 7 Brew outlot creates a 16‑space shortfall, which the applicant addressed with a striping plan that staff says can be implemented on existing pavement if demand requires it. Ingleson also said the project will use underground stormwater storage chambers because surface mitigation options are limited by the large existing parking area.

Traffic consultants reviewed the proposal and identified limited impacts. Staff summarized the consultant’s findings as roughly a 0.5 percent increase in traffic — about 104 additional trips per day — with about 26 exiting trips during the peak hour. Staff also described entering volumes as roughly 224 trips per day and about 57 entering during the peak hour. Ingleson said SRF confirmed site circulation and queuing are appropriate for a two‑lane drive‑through that can accommodate up to 19 vehicles.

The traffic consultant recommended moving an ADA parking stall that could potentially become trapped by circulation. City staff reported the building official had determined the ADA stall must remain the closest space to the building to comply with ADA requirements, so staff added an alternative condition: limit a neighboring non‑ADA stall for employee parking and require on‑site directional or operational measures if circulation issues develop.

The proposal also includes pedestrian and bicycle accommodations: staff added a condition requiring a bike rack, and the applicant said it will provide a connector sidewalk to the nearest walkway. The applicant, Mike Gusterson of 7 Brew, described the business as a drive‑through model that typically completes service in about 3½–4½ minutes, uses sliding‑door ordering rather than a permanent exterior order board, and employs mostly part‑time youth workers. Gusterson said directional signage (non‑branded) and designated queuing signage are standard for 7 Brew locations and that the bike rack and picnic seating are part of their neighborhood approach: "We intend to put on the bike rack. Location would be specific to what the city would like us to do for the safety of the people riding the bikes," he said.

Commissioners raised coordination questions about access and circulation with adjacent Culver’s and other tenants in the large strip center, utility connections (applicant indicated private laterals), and whether MnDOT improvements planned for Highway 7 could affect the access. Staff said parcel ownership is consolidated, MnDOT and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources were reviewed (MnDNR offered no comment), and that off‑site changes such as lane widening would need MnDOT involvement.

With no public speakers, the commission moved to a recommendation to council. Commissioner Minyon moved to recommend approval; Commissioner Hansen seconded. The vote was 4 in favor, 0 opposed. Chair Maxwell said the item will go to the City Council on Dec. 8.

Next steps: the City Council will consider the resolution and final site and building plan on Dec. 8. The commission also postponed two variance items (4241 Winchester Court and 15020 Tamar Lane) to the commission’s Dec. 4 meeting.