The Canandaigua Planning Commission signed off on three development-related applications at its meeting last week, including approval for a drive-through restaurant on Eastern Boulevard, a privacy fence plan at Canandaigua Country Club and a special use permit for a “grab-and-go” energy drink shop on Mill Street.
7 Brew moves ahead after county reviews; commission issues SEQR negative declaration
The meeting’s first public hearing involved an application for 7 Brew at 160 Eastern Blvd., seeking a special use permit, site plan review and architectural review to demolish an existing structure and build a drive-through restaurant with related infrastructure. The matter had been tabled from Nov. 12 pending outside review.
City staff said the Ontario County Planning Board had “no significant comments” and deferred to the city board, while the county Department of Public Works had exchanged technical feedback that did not change the site plan commissioners were reviewing.
No members of the public spoke at the hearing, either in the room or online, before the commission closed the public hearing.
Commissioners then completed the State Environmental Quality Review Act checklist and unanimously issued a negative declaration, finding no or small impacts across the reviewed categories. The vote was 7-0.
A remaining point raised by staff was that a pole sign associated with the site would be handled later, while building signage as submitted was unchanged from the prior month.
With county reviews complete, the commission approved the application.
Country club fence approval hinges on landscaping plan and timing
Another application tabled from November returned for architectural review of a privacy fence at Canandaigua Country Club, 295 Lakeshore Drive.
General Manager Jim Fields told the commission the club proposed the fence to replace trees and foliage removed the prior spring and to restore privacy and security near the first hole. The board’s earlier request was for a planting plan, and Fields said the club provided one prepared by Anthony Venezia, along with an email documenting coordination with Public Works Director Stephanie Crim, including acknowledgment that some plantings may fall on city property.
Commission discussion centered on visuals and timing. Commissioners asked about whether the fence would extend toward the lake, the anticipated plant height and how quickly screening would occur. The planting mix discussed included arrowwood viburnum and Canadian hemlock; commissioners noted hemlocks can be slow-growing and discussed starting sizes such as about five feet.
Chair James Hitchcock also raised concerns from the prior meeting about the timing of the landscaping because Fields said the plantings were not in the club’s 2026 budget, though Fields said the club would “make it happen.” Fields proposed planting in April or May and said he expected the plantings to be in by June 1.
With those points addressed — including discussion of the fence color as gray with white trim — the commission approved the application with conditions that plantings be at least five feet tall and installed no later than June 1. The vote was 7-0.
Mill Street “grab-and-go” energy drink shop wins special use permit
The commission’s second public hearing concerned another application for 164 Mill St., J Bittel Properties, seeking a special use permit to operate a carryout restaurant in an existing building.
Applicant Ryan Biddle described the proposed tenant as a “grab and go” energy drink business using “Lotus energy,” with drinks made on site and primarily taken to go. He said there would be limited seating — roughly 10 chairs — and listed operating hours as 6:30 a.m. to about 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, matching the tenant’s current operation.
Commission discussion touched on the scope of the tenant space — Biddle said the use would take over the whole building — and noted no signage was part of the current application and would come later. Commissioners also discussed trash handling downtown, with Biddle saying refuse would be minimal and that off-site dumpsters at other properties were available.
Parking drew brief discussion, including questions about reserved spaces near the building and summer weekend congestion during the farmers market, but commissioners did not identify a significant impact during the meeting.
With no public comment offered at the hearing, the commission closed the public hearing and unanimously approved the special use permit.
Commissioner marks final meeting
Near the end of the meeting, one commissioner said it was his last meeting, citing age and hearing challenges. Staff and fellow commissioners thanked him for his years of service and noted his involvement dating back to early architectural review work.
The commission then adjourned.
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