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 lot. It’s a very narrow lot, very long,” said the applicant’s representative during the hearing. The applicant also explained employees will carry drinks to the exterior pickup lane using a striped walkway; the canopy and heaters were described as protections for staff during inclement weather.

Neighbors and business owners urged the commission to consider how drive‑through stacking might affect adjoining properties. Ed Jessen of Hoffman Lee, representing an interested owner, warned that the proposed queue could spill into an easement that serves a five‑tenant building and a Wingstop, calling it “a detriment to the tenants that are there.” Property owner Waleed Lababidi told the commission the development risked making rear parking unusable for his plaza tenants and said, “it’s gonna kill my tenants because if they cannot … their customers cannot pull in and out at ease, they’re not gonna frequent their establishments.”

Applicants and staff said the drive‑through was drawn to contain stacking on the 7 Brew parcel and that the site plan shows space for roughly 10 stacked vehicles on the site plan; the applicant also said additional stacking could be accommodated before reaching the dumpster and that vehicles would be able to enter and exit via Kent Road. Staff noted the city engineering review and traffic study did not recommend additional public improvements based on the use.

The commission approved the site plan and variances (Planning Commission file PC25‑006) by roll call: Mrs. Clancy, Mr. Wagner, Mrs. Treptow and Mr. Basic all voted yes. The applicant and staff were asked to continue coordination with abutting property owners; staff said it had already provided contact information for the applicants and the abutting owner and would follow up before the next review step.

Sign package and front‑façade signage were discussed as a separate application (PC2025‑007). The applicant originally requested multiple wall signs and one monument sign; staff said the building’s front façade would only allow 23.5 square feet of signage under code, while the applicant proposed about 43.6 square feet on the front. During the meeting the applicant said it would reduce directional and drive‑through arrows and work with staff on sign size. The commission approved the signage application with a condition setting a capped maximum front sign area as clarified during the hearing and recorded by staff, and the motion carried by unanimous roll call.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that some matters concerning private access easements and maintenance would be governed by property‑owner agreements, not by the planning commission. Staff said any changes to maintenance or easement terms would have to be resolved between property owners. The commission approved the development applications and noted staff would continue outreach to abutting owners ahead of subsequent reviews.

Votes at a glance - PC25‑006 (4397 Kent Road, 7 Brew): Motion to approve site plan, conditional uses and variances — Approved (Clancy: yes; Wagner: yes; Treptow: yes; Basic: yes). Outcome: approved. - PC2025‑007 (7 Brew sign variance): Motion to approve with a cap placed on the front façade sign area per the condition discussed at the meeting — Approved (Clancy: yes; Wagner: yes; Treptow: yes; Basic: yes). Outcome: approved.

What happens next: The approvals clear the Planning Commission stage; staff said it would continue coordination with property owners and the applicant as the project moves to the next steps of the city’s review process.