Developer Royce Reding’s plan for a 7 Brew Coffee at the corner of Sunshine and Jefferson was previously rejected twice by the city planning & zoning commission.
Council members talked over their options extensively before voting on two bills that would have let the project go forward as proposed. Zone 2 Councilman Abe McGull said he thinks nearby neighborhood residents might accept less intense business activity on the vacant property.
"The sentiments I’ve gathered from the residents in that area, they have no opposition to a limited business; the opposition is to the drive-through,” he said.
Council voted 7 to 2 to approve rezoning for “limited business” use, but the drive-through permit failed.
On Monday night, it wasn’t clear what kind of development could emerge at the one-acre strip of land across from Sunshine Elementary.