Council approves 7 Brew drive-through at 533 S. 24th St. W.; staff limits added to protect neighbors

The Billings City Council unanimously approved a special review to allow a drive-through-only 7 Brew coffee kiosk at 533 South 24th Street West, adopting the zoning commission—onditions intended to limit neighborhood impacts.

Planning staff described the site as corridor mixed-use and said surrounding properties include residential zoning to the east and commercial uses nearby. Staff recommended conditional approval with conditions that include: no outdoor amplified ordering audible at adjacent property lines, full-cutoff lighting fixtures, and maintenance of existing six-foot screening fencing between the commercial use and adjacent residences.

Agent Brian Evans, speaking online, described the 7 Brew operation as a drive-through-only beverage kiosk, noting that ordering will be conducted by staff-facing iPads and that the business plans reduced operational hours (05:30–10:00 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). "We will, as said, abide by landscaping requirements and buffering requirements," Evans said, and added the parking shown is primarily to accommodate employee shift turnover rather than customer seating.

Council members pressed staff on noise concerns and possible operational-hour limits to mitigate late-evening vehicle or radio noise. Planning staff said the standard noise ordinance and buffer-yard requirements can address late-evening complaints and that additional hour limits could be imposed at building-permit review if council wished.

After the public hearing opened with no public comments, Councilmember Amy Aguirre moved approval of Special Review 1004. The motion passed unanimously.

The approval authorizes the drive-through under the listed conditions; staff will enforce the conditions during building permit review and via code enforcement if complaints arise.