Commission approves Scooter’s Coffee drive‑thru at 552 E. Chicago Rd., with stormwater, signage and lighting conditions

The Planning Commission approved Special Use Permit 26‑04 to allow a Scooter’s Coffee drive‑thru kiosk at 552 East Chicago Road, contingent on finalized stormwater calculations, signage that meets business‑center requirements for a multi‑tenant lot, and exterior lighting controls.

Shannon Jones, the applicant, said the proposal is for a roughly 665‑square‑foot drive‑through coffee kiosk to be located on a lot that will continue to host another restaurant. “We have interest in putting a Scooters Coffee drive‑thru kiosk,” Jones said, and noted the team has provided revised stormwater and utility amendments to address staff comments.

Staff told commissioners the site will add landscaped elements — a green strip and a rain garden — that increase permeable surface on a lot currently dominated by asphalt. The plan director said parking calculations were met when the lot’s combined uses were considered, but stormwater calculations still require finalization; staff recommended approval with conditions covering stormwater, signage and exterior lighting.

Robert, a staff member who addressed signage, explained that because multiple businesses will occupy the parcel the development must use a single business‑center ground sign rather than separate pylons for each tenant; building and incidental signage on the property were otherwise acceptable with revisions proposed.

The applicant stated proposed hours of operation as 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with occasional earlier openings at an existing Battle Creek location. With no public comments, the commission closed the hearing, approved the site plan and special use permit by voice vote, and directed staff to review and administratively approve final engineering and signage plans if they meet ordinance standards.