Planning commission approves 7 Brew drive‑thru at 4397 Kent Road despite parking and setback variances

The Stow City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a site plan, two conditional uses and two variances for a 7 Brew drive‑through at 4397 Kent Road, a small lot in Fish Creek Plaza between O’Reilly Auto Parts and Midas.

Commissioners approved the application after staff presented the proposal and after several residents and neighboring property owners raised concerns about queueing and an access easement that runs through adjacent lots.

The project calls for demolishing the existing building where Rent‑A‑Center sat and replacing it with a 543‑square‑foot drive‑through coffee building, two drive‑through lanes, a bypass lane for vehicles and emergency access, a detached cooler at the rear of the building and a canopy over the drive‑through. The applicant asked for two variances: to provide 16 parking spaces where the code requires a minimum of 20, and to locate parking about 4 feet from the west property line where 10 feet is required. The site plan also shows three new shade trees, roughly 70 shrubs, and a sidewalk providing pedestrian access from Kent Road.

“ We are providing 16 parking spaces, which we believe is maximum of that we can provide on this…