City Council Will Decide on Schuller's Tavern Expansion Plans

Ray Jacob, the owner of Golden Valley's Schuller's Tavern, wants to add a patio to his restaurant. But if the Golden Valley City Council listens to the Planning Commission's recommendation at their meeting Wednesday night, Jacob's request will be denied. 

In order for Schuller's Tavern to expand, the general land use plan map needs to be changed from residential to commercial use. On July 9, the Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the re-purposing of the land. According to commission documents, many neighbors attended the hearing and voiced their opinion.

"[I] have to shut my windows and can't hear the TV because of the noise from Schuller's," Karen Reeves said at the public hearing in July, according to commission documents. Reeves asked the City to deny the patio request.

Cate Zottia, another neighbor, said that she purchased her property in a residential neighborhood, not a commercial area. "Property values in [my] neighborhood have gone down and any change to the zoning of Schuller's property will have unitended consequences," Zottia said in commission documents.

Other neighbors urged commission members to consider the re-zoning of the space.

"There are a lot of bars in Northeast Minneapolis that have been around since the 1930s and they have patios and are within 20 feet of residential property," resident Steve Sands said. "They seem to have a way to deal with this type of situation in Minneapolis."

Jacob, who has owned Schuller's Tavern since 1989, said in commission documents that he plans to pass the business on to his children, but was recently forced to reduced staff. He hopes a patio will increase sales.