Planning commission approves Bubba’s 33 restaurant at Fairfield Commons with amended square footage

The City of Beavercreek Planning Commission on an evening in September approved a major modification to PUD 88-18 that clears the way for a 7,105-square-foot Bubba's 33 restaurant at 2799 Center Drive.

The change, requested by the applicant and represented at the hearing by Paula Hubert of Greenberg Ferro, was approved with staff’s recommendation and 13 standard conditions after commissioners amended the resolution to replace an earlier stated square-footage figure with the clarified 7,105 number. Commissioner Jones moved the amendment; the commission approved the amendment by voice and later recorded a 5-0 roll-call vote to approve the final application.

Why it matters: The project converts a former 6,500-square-foot tenant space into a slightly larger sit-down restaurant on 2.02 acres in the Fairfield Commons area, increasing parking and changing building materials and elevations. The commission and staff emphasized circulation, landscaping and screening while balancing the applicant’s operational needs for a high-traffic casual dining location.

Staff and applicant presentation: Colin Carfel, the city’s senior planner, told the commission the proposal replaces a long-vacant TGI Bridal space and adds parking and access improvements. Carfel said the zoning code would require about 112 spaces based on floor area and employees but that the applicant is proposing 145 spaces to support peak demand from the restaurant’s anticipated lunch and dinner service. He described the building materials as face brick, fiber cement and metal canopies and said staff recommended approval subject to 13 conditions.

Applicant representative Paula Hubert said Bubba’s 33 would be “a moderately priced casual dining experience, scratch made food for all” and highlighted the applicant’s work with staff on site-plan changes, added landscaping and increased masonry on elevations. Hubert said the project team intentionally provided more parking than the code minimum given experience with similar high-demand restaurants.

Commission questions and conditions: Commissioners asked about trash pickup access, roof-mounted mechanical equipment screening, and the proposed “veteran” parking spaces shown on the plan. Staff said the dumpster will be enclosed and that rooftop equipment will be screened behind a parapet; the veteran parking will be on an honor system and not reduce required accessible stalls. The commission moved and approved an amendment changing the square footage figure in the resolution to 7,105 square feet before approving the application.

Vote and next steps: The commission approved the amended resolution and the PUD modification by roll call, 5-0. Carfel said the applicant hopes to begin construction in March, subject to any necessary council or permit approvals.

Provenance: The applicant presentation and staff report were given during the hearing for case PUD88-18 mod 825; the amendment and final roll-call vote appear in the hearing record.