SEVEN FIELDS — In a meeting Monday characterized by social distancing measures, borough council approved Club Leaf & Bean's application to open a retail cigar shop, but not necessarily its original plan to open a private cigar club.

In a 4-1 vote, with council member Kevin Caridad the sole dissenting vote, the council subjected Club Leaf & Bean to nine restrictive conditions intended to ensure its operation as a retail business establishment under the zoning ordinance, rather than as a private club.

The conditions set by the borough include the club being fully open to the public whenever business is conducted; closing at 2 a.m. and reopening no earlier than 6 a.m.; ensuring an employee is present when alcohol is brought into or consumed at the club; and keeping the retail portion of the establishment open so long as the business remains at the location. The club will be located at the former site of Hines Ward's Table 86.

The business may establish a select area to be used by members — and may close for “by invitation only” events for limited duration and frequency. However, that area must constitute a “clearly incidental and subordinate” part of the business, according to officials.

Those conditions stem from Club Leaf & Bean's application for conditional use as a retail business establishment, rather than as a private club. The business asked council in October to amend the ordinance's definition of a private club, but council balked at the request. Currently, only nonprofits may use such designation.

If it were to follow those conditions, the cigar business' operations would look significantly differently than its other location, in North Strabane Township, Washington County, which operates wholly as a private club and does not sell cigars and cigar accessories to the general public.

Mark Zini, who owns Club Leaf & Bean, also owns a similarly-named Leaf & Bean, a retail shop selling cigars and coffee products. That business has locations in Pittsburgh and Peters Township, Washington County.

While the public participation at previous meetings pertaining to the business has been vociferous, there were only seven people at Monday's meeting, including three members of council, the borough manager and its solicitor. Two council members — Kevin Caridad and Brian Trimble — participated by phone.

For those who were there, the council chambers had a different look. Chairs were set up six feet apart to facilitate social distancing to suppress the spread of the coronavirus, and the three physically present council members sat at the far ends and middle of the dais.