Design Review Board grants final approval for 1320 N. Main coffee shop, asks for brick and landscaping details

The Summerville Design Review Board on May 28 granted final approval for a proposed coffee shop at 1320 North Main Street, while imposing conditions to address materials, roofing, landscaping and utility screening.

Staff said the project had earlier received preliminary feedback and that while a formal traffic impact analysis was not required, the town’s engineering department would review circulation under the site-disturbance (MS4) process. The applicant’s team reported updated landscaping that meets tree-mitigation requirements and noted changes requested by the town arborist.

Architectural representatives (including Mike Twist and Grant Caldwell) described two major changes from earlier reviews: replacement of thin brick with full brick and introduction of a mansard roof to hide rooftop equipment. Board members pressed for hard-copy material samples (brick, mortar/grout, and roof samples), clarified that a photometric plan will be required at the permitting stage, and asked the applicant to study cornice, eave and residential scaled details (brackets, rafter tails) that would better reflect local Low Country vernacular.

On site details, staff and board discussed a sidewalk/walkway that may be adjusted to create planting beds and recommended canopy trees where feasible to break up visible facades and provide shade. Staff reiterated that staff-level review will handle photometric and engineering checks during permitting and that major changes to circulation or aesthetics could require a return to the DRB.

The board approved final review with conditions; the applicant must submit material samples, a final photometric plan at the site-disturbance permitting stage, and final landscaping plans (including proposed canopy trees and tree mitigation details) for staff verification before permits are issued.