Urbana City Council approves agreements for Dutch Bros, two other new, expanded businesses

The Urbana City Council gave the OK Monday night to agreements that will allow three special businesses to expand into the area.

CU Adventures in Time and Space
The first thing the council voted to accept was a proposal for a redevelopment agreement with CU Adventures in Time and Space at 302 North Broadway Avenue. The vacant space next door is to be expanded by the owners.

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The minigolf experience will be high tech, fantasy and private rooms for events and a bar area, and they’ll create an ‘immersive’ experience. There will not be food available on site, but trucks will come in to provide food service in the area.

Under the agreement, City will pay a $210,000 TIF Incentive in the form of five annual payments. This agreement passed unanimously.

Fernie’s High Horse

Then, the City Council passed a redevelopment agreement with Race Street Ventures, LLC.

In October 2021, the developers purchased the two buildings at 118 South Race Street and 120 South Race Street. Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance and then Gallagher Insurance were housed in one. The other was The Iron Post’s home.

Now Race Street Ventures intends to transform the space into Fernie’s High Horse. The space will have room for 250 people, split into a live performance space (that could be converted into a movie theatre with up to 100 seats), coffeehouse, cafe, bar and patio for food trucks. There will be four two bedroom apartments in the second floor.

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Under the terms of the agreement, the City would offer a TIF incentive of up to $258,000. It will be disbursed in 5 parts. The first one will be $100,000 and will be given 45 days after the building permit is issued. The other three payments will occur annually and the second payment will be paid after the fourth performance period.

If these two conditions were met, the payments would be based on.

• At least 150 live entertainment events and film showings have been held annually at the venue.
• Every year, the venue has sold at least $750,000 in food and beverage sales

Dutch Bros Special Use Permit

On Monday, the Dutch Bros Special Use Permit proposal was also approved by the City Council.

The council approved a conditional use permit for the business in January, at the corner of Green Street and Lincoln Avenue. However, the Plan Commission reviewed the drive-thru permit on Jan. 16 and unanimously voted to recommend denial to city council.

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In particular, the commission cited concerns about the amount of traffic that would occur on site and at the entry/exit drive along Green Street. They also noted that the plan doesn’t mirror the City’s Comprehensive Plan and zoning.

The City Council requested during last week’s meeting that the developers work with the city planning and engineering departments to have safety measures for pedestrians and bikers put in place.

The City Council passed the new agreement unanimously.

Dutch Bros representative said this will be the first location in Central Illinois. Staff admitted last week that it could cause congestion in the area, but said any “reasonable successful business” in that spot would also be a generator of traffic.