EAC tables 7 Brew double-lane drive-through proposal at 3825 Union Road amid traffic-stacking and setback concerns

Cheektowaga's Environmental Advisory Committee tabled a special-use and site-plan application for a double-lane 7 Brew drive-through at 3825 Union Road after reviewing supplemental traffic material and discussing stacking and setback issues.

Corey Auerbach (Berkeley Damon), the project presenter, said the design reuses underutilized parking and provides a double stacking lane with 19 stacking spaces (16 behind the canopy and three at the canopy) and no order board; staff deliver orders to vehicles from sliding doors. Corey said the applicant provided a traffic letter based on both Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) trip-generation rates and counts from existing 7 Brew locations; the letter indicated no more than 14 vehicles were observed at peak times in their on-site surveys.

John Iskey, head of real estate for the franchisee group, told the committee the team has multiple stores under construction in the region and defended the 7 Brew operational model (employees taking orders/delivering drinks) as reducing onsite dwell time. Dan (staff member) raised concerns about whether the site meets the town's drive-through setback and whether the start of the drive-through is too close to the existing access drive; he said the ultimate discretion on that zoning interpretation rests with the Town Board.

Why it matters: The proposed drive-through sits on Union Road, a busy commercial corridor, and committee members and the Planning Board sought assurances that vehicle stacking would not back onto Union Road or create hazards at the access drive.

Details: The applicant presented a supplemental traffic letter dated Sept. 22 and site-plan alternatives; committee members asked whether the layout could be shifted south or reoriented to reduce potential backups. Dan said the EAC must determine whether the supplemental material supports a negative declaration under SEQRA and whether the drive-through setbacks meet code. Members agreed to review the supplemental materials and asked the applicant to explore minor site shifts if feasible.

Action: The committee voted to table the application to allow staff and committee members time to review the submitted traffic letter and to await any additional alternatives from the applicant. The next EAC meeting was scheduled for Oct. 29.

Next steps: The applicant will provide any alternate layouts and the EAC and staff will circulate comments and review the traffic analysis and code consistency before the item returns to the committee.