DEADLINE SET FOR PROPERTY PURCHASE
Simple Food Group given until Dec. 31
Representatives from the Simple Food Group, owners of Simple Cafe and Simple Bakery & Market, have received a Dec. 31 deadline to complete the purchase of 11 acres of city-owned property on Sheridan Springs Road to construct a multi-use campus.
The Lake Geneva City Council has given Simple Food Group until Dec. 31 to complete the purchase of 11 acres of city-owned property on Sheridan Springs Road.
The vote by alders June 22 was 6-1, with Alder Mary Jo Fesenmaier dissenting.
Simple Food Group, which owns Simple Cafe and Simple Bakery & Market at 525 Broad St., plan to develop a multi-use campus that will feature a bakery, cafe and coffee shop, event space, catering kitchen, food laboratory and 30-unit apartment building.
City Council approved selling the property Jan. 26 for about $750,000, and the company has paid about $30,000 toward that amount.
Steve Cook, an attorney representing Simple Food Group, requested the Dec. 31 deadline to allow time for the company to to present a general development plan and precise implementation plan to the Plan Commission and City Council, as well as have those documents approved.
Simple Food Group also needs to meet with engineers, planners and contractors regarding the project.
"The process is as long as it should be because you're making very, very important decisions," Cook said. "They're moving diligently forward."
Building and Zoning Administrator Renee Hanlon said Simple Food Group is scheduled to present a general development plan for the project during the July 20 Plan Commission meeting, which means it probably would not be voted on by City Council until mid-August.
She also wants to allow enough time in case any changes need to be made.
"The idea was to look at the schedule and then build in a couple of months for any contingencies," Hanlon said.
Alderwoman Linda Frame said the company also has to complete an application process that will take about 10-weeks before the project may begin.
"They're not trying to delay it or push it back because they can't get it together," Frame said. "There's a lot of things scheduled and they have to wait for these meetings and these applications to go through."
In other business, the council:
■ Approved a public event permit application for the Kids Parade, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 4.
■ Approved a taxi cab renewal application filed by Senior Cab Plus.
■ Approved a taxi cab original application filed by Cruzin Transportation.
■ Approved massage establishment renewal applications filed by Elevate Wellness Center, Healing Muscle Therapies, Lake Geneva Massage Therapy and Lakeview Spa.
■ Approved continuing the vote on a conditional use permit for a proposed supper club, which is set to be constructed near the northwest corer of Interchange North and Center Street.
