The City Plan Commission met 04/12/2024. One of the items they took up was a minor amendment to OB Brau Haus’ special use permit which would allow the establishment to maintain a sidewalk cafe along the amenity strip in front of its building with food and alcohol service.
The item was approved unanimously.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
OB’s Brau Haus recently received 150 demerits to their alcohol license as the result of a semi-nude dancing incident, and the Walnut Street/State Street/500 block of College Avenue has been the location of several incidents of violence recently including a non-fatal shooting in November and a fatal shooting on Christmas Eve.
The commission was statutorily limited in its ability do anything other than approve the amendment.
Alderperson Denise Fenton (District 6) recognized the commission’s responsibility to approve the item but noted, “I do have concerns with that block. And I just wanted to, I guess make a note of that, notwithstanding the fact that I don’t think we have any option.”
She asked what the hours of operation for the sidewalk Cafe would be and was told by Principal Planner Don Harp that the hours of operation for sidewalk cafes that serve alcohol were limited to the hours of 4PM to 9:30PM.
Mayor Woodford echoed Alderperson Fenton’s concerns saying, “This has been an area of concern with respect to public safety and the downtown over the last several months, and while the Planning Commission’s latitude is fairly limited in this matter, I think it is worth noting that this is an area of concern and that there have been some issues related to this particular establishment. However, I intend to vote to approve this given our limited latitude.”
The commission voted unanimously to approve the amendment to the special use permit.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1168044&GUID=79D7434E-26C1-490E-8CAE-AC73C340171C
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