A 7 Brew location is pictured. Business Wire via AP

CRANBERRY TWP — Township supervisors meeting on Thursday, April, 30, included a public hearing on a conditional use application for a planned 7 Brew location along Route 19 between the Barnes & Noble and Best Buy stores.

7 Brew Coffee, owned by Who Brew LLC, is a nationwide chain with more 600 locations, including 15 in Pennsylvania, which offer exclusively drive-thru service

Bob Gage, of Who Brew LLC, offered lengthy testimony in which he addressed the conditional use requirements.

Karen Newpol, supervisors vice chair, interrupted the testimony and the board accepted Gage’s testimony as a written exhibit for public record.

Upon inquiry by Bruce Hezlep, chairman of the board, Ron Henshaw, the director of planning and development services, concurred that all conditional uses have been met.

However, during public comment, Maureen Sweeney, a lawyer from Steptoe & Johnson representing La Salle Plaza, raised concern about the conditional use application. La Salle Plaza is a shopping mall in the township, located at 20411 Route 19.

“My client has concerns about this conditional use application,” Sweeney said.

She said that, contrary to Gage’s testimony, the application failed to meet the conditional use requirements for drive-thru use per the township’s ordinance.

Specifically, Sweeney said drive-thru restaurants are permitted only in regional or community shopping centers with vehicular access through the internal circulation of that center. She said that the proposed 7 Brew property, being a stand alone drive-thru restaurant, did not meet the requirements.

“These are basic fundamental requirements for a drive-thru restaurant and establishment of the township, and my client objects to this application,” she said.

According to Sweeney, a 7 Brew is the type of establishment the ordinance is meant to address, as these establishments are “high traffic generators.”

Following testimony from Sweeney, Henshaw clarified the 7 Brew is categorized as a drive-thru establishment and not a drive-thru restaurant. He said the property does not have to meet the shopping center requirements as a result.

“Staff has consistently applied these provisions accordingly across every business, from Dunkin’ Donuts to Starbucks to 7-Brew and beyond,” Henshaw said.

When Sweeney returned to the podium, disagreement remained over what 7 Brew qualifies as: a drive-thru restaurant or establishment.

“This is, in fact, a restaurant,” said Sweeney. “It’s not just a drive-thru establishment.”

Sweeney said her firm represents another site that “has been told routinely that it has to provide access via shopping center. That was the basis for our statements. These requirements are not being applied consistently.”

“And I can tell you with confidence that is incorrect,” Henshaw said in response.

The board subsequently closed the public hearing.