Florence planners review change-of-concept and variances for proposed 7 Brew drive-through at 7303 Turfway Road

A proposed 7 Brew drive-through coffee shop at 7303 Turfway Road drew detailed review during the Florence City Council caucus, where planning staff summarized variances and conditions tied to a change-of-concept plan for the 0.56-acre site.

The request — transmitted as Resolution R25010A from the Boone County Planning Commission — would allow a 543-square-foot primary building, a 277-square-foot accessory cooler, and a drive-through layout with two stacking lanes and 12 parking spaces on the parcel located between a vacant Frische92s building and a Chipotle on Turfway Road. The Planning Commission voted unanimously in early March to approve the change-of-concept plan and the requested variances; the Planning & Zoning Committee reviewed the referral and recommended conditions to the city council.

Why this matters: The proposal requires variances because of the small lot size and nonstandard features for the corridor (reduced front setback, reduced perimeter buffer, and a front-door location not facing the street). Committee members said traffic stacking and pedestrian connectivity are important considerations in this high-traffic corridor, particularly given nearby church traffic.

Key points from the caucus

- Variances and plan details: Staff said the front yard setback would be reduced from 50 feet to 37 feet and perimeter buffer requirements were reduced; the submitted trip generation memo reported a weekday AM peak of 26 in/26 out and a weekday PM peak of 11 in/22 out. The site grades drain toward Turfway Road.

- Planning Commission conditions: The Planning Commission imposed screening for roof-mounted mechanicals on all facades and asked the city to evaluate whether pedestrian crosswalks were required.

- Planning & Zoning Committee additions: The committee added a condition that would require a change-of-concept plan if the business model changes from beverage sales only to full food-and-beverage service, so vehicle stacking and traffic safety could be reevaluated. The committee also modified a condition concerning a sidewalk connection, concluding an ADA-compliant connection to the adjacent Remke property could not reasonably be required because of steep slopes on that adjacent property.

Traffic and neighborhood concerns

Council members and residents raised concerns about traffic congestion at peak church times. Miss Cable asked specifically about Sunday congestion when nearby 7 Hills Church releases services. Robert E. Surgent, a member of Southern Hills Church, described the church's activity levels and said the auditorium seats 2,500 and the church runs multiple weekly services and bused youth programs, noting local police assist with traffic. An applicant representative characterized Sunday morning as a pre-service peak but said Sunday was otherwise slower for the coffee shop.

What the city has not decided

The Planning Commission approved the variances; the Planning & Zoning Committee forwarded its recommended conditions and discussion to the City Council for final action. The caucus did not record a final council vote on R25010A.

Next steps

The matter remains before Florence City Council for scheduling of a final public hearing and vote. Planning staff indicated the city would further evaluate pedestrian crosswalk needs and traffic stacking if the business model changes.

Ending note

Council and staff signaled continued scrutiny on traffic management and pedestrian access as the project proceeds through council review.