LA GRANGE, Ky. — Oldham County planning staff and several outside agencies reviewed a site plan for a proposed 7 Brew drive‑through at a Technical Review Committee meeting on Dec. 17, where officials identified parking, stormwater and right‑of‑way issues the applicant must address before formal site-plan approval.

Anna Barge, Senior Planner with Oldham County Planning and Development, opened the meeting and said the TRC’s role is to vet proposed subdivisions and development plans and to allow agency feedback; she noted the TRC does not take testimony for or against applications and does not make final decisions. Brian Evans, representing Brea Team Kentucky LLC, gave a brief overview of the business. "We don't serve food," Evans said, describing 7 Brew as a drinks‑only, prefabricated prototype with dual drive‑through lanes and an operational target of under three minutes from order to pickup. He said typical hours would be 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays (11 p.m. Friday–Saturday) and estimated each stand would employ about "60 and 70 people."

Oldham County staff read written planning comments dated Nov. 18, 2025, asking the applicant to clarify parcel boundary lines, show the location and purpose of easements, add 5‑foot contour lines, map stormwater flow, list adjoining property ownership, and submit a landscaping and lighting plan that meets buffering requirements to abutting residences. Staff also noted a discrepancy between the proposed parking count and the county standard for coffee shops (1 space per 100 square feet of gross floor area) and said a waiver to the Planning Commission would be required if the applicant keeps the higher parking total.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), through written comments read at the meeting, said additional right‑of‑way along the frontage may be required and that any proposal to alter drainage affecting the state right‑of‑way must be accompanied by a hydrological analysis comparing existing and proposed conditions for the 25‑ and 100‑year storms. KYTC also advised that direct access to KY‑53 should be limited to right‑in/right‑out with a barrier median and that commercial signs and landscaping in the state right‑of‑way require separate permits. Those comments were described as preliminary; KYTC will re‑review the construction plans and may change conditions.

Jim Sillman of the county engineer’s office said the project footprint is just over one acre and therefore requires a stormwater quality management and erosion‑control permit from the county and a permit from the Division of Water (referred to in the record as a "KYR 10" permit). He said calculations must demonstrate containment for the 2‑, 10‑, 25‑ and 100‑year storms as required by county and state rules, that an underground detention basin is proposed, and that a stormwater maintenance agreement will be recorded with the clerk’s office.

LaGrange Utilities' comments (submitted in writing) asked that water and sewer plans be submitted for review, show elevation cuts over existing utility infrastructure and verify pipe depths to maintain minimum coverage because several easements and existing lines cross the parcel. Matt Toler from GIS provided a brief addressing clarification; the applicant’s engineer had already submitted a traffic assessment required by Oldham County standards and KYTC determined a state traffic impact study was not required at this stage.

Keith Smith of the fire department asked whether the prefabricated building would have a monitored smoke detection or fire protection system; Evans replied, "No, sir." During public comment, nearby resident Charles Cardwell said a wood fence along the berm behind his property at 1405 Grange Drive appears to be on the applicant’s side and is falling over. Staff suggested Cardwell contact the applicant and property owner after the meeting to seek a resolution; Barge noted that the TRC is not a venue for civil property disputes.

No formal vote or decision was taken at the meeting. Barge said neighbors will be notified if the applicant pursues a parking waiver before the Planning Commission. The applicant was given the written comments and instructions to revise plans and submit required permits and detailed stormwater calculations before the project proceeds to later review stages.

Next steps: applicant to revise plans to address Oldham County and agency comments, submit required stormwater and Division of Water permits and utility plans, and, if parking counts remain above the county standard, apply for a waiver that will be considered by the Planning Commission.