Commission backs 7 Brew dual‑lane drive‑through at Randhurst outlot, with conditions

The Mount Prospect Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously April 23 to recommend that the Village Board grant a conditional use allowing two drive‑through lanes for a proposed 7 Brew coffee at 201 East Euclid Avenue, an outlot of Randhurst Village.

Village staff told the commission the project would keep the existing Steak and Shake building footprint (about 3,600 square feet), convert the site to a dual‑lane drive‑through with a 48‑space stacking plan, close an eastern access drive to contain queuing on‑site, reduce parking from 59 to 26 spaces, and add landscaping to improve the site's appearance. Staff said impervious coverage would fall slightly from about 76% to about 72% and that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MMWRD) reviewed the project and confirmed on April 13 that no watershed management permit is required because the proposed disturbance (0.12 acres) is below the 0.5‑acre threshold.

"We do focus on drive thru only," said Matt Bridal, the franchisee representing the petitioner, describing 7 Brew’s operational model. He confirmed there would be no interior or exterior seating, that walk‑up customers would be served at the door only occasionally, and that a typical shift would have about five employees on site. Bridal also said the franchisee currently operates roughly a dozen Chicago‑area locations with additional sites under construction.

Commissioners questioned how the double lanes would be served (staff and the petitioner said employees would take orders with tablets outside, similar to some fast‑casual models), whether the peninsula created for circulation would be landscaped (staff confirmed turf/plantings), and whether the trash enclosure’s current position at the peninsula entrance might be visually prominent (staff said the location was chosen to minimize stacking conflicts but asked the commission to flag concerns for further consideration). A commissioner raised potential light‑spill concerns for nearby homes; staff noted an existing elevated berm along Euclid Avenue screens the site and must be maintained per earlier approvals.

Staff recommended approval subject to strict conformity with the site and architectural plans submitted, and the commission moved and seconded to recommend the conditional use. The motion passed on a unanimous roll call. Village staff indicated the item will move next to the Village Board for final action.

Conditions listed in the staff report include development in strict conformance with the approved plan sets (site plans by Toth and Associates, architectural plans by RDL Architects, and signage package by Pattison ID) and any standard permitting processes for signage and stormwater as applicable.