Clemson BZA approves SevenBrew drive‑thru variance to allow earlier openings and extended weekend hours

The Clemson Board of Zoning and Appeals on a unanimous show‑of‑hands vote approved variance 2026‑V‑01 to allow a SevenBrew drive‑thru at 614 Old Greenville Highway to open at 5:00 a.m. and to extend closing to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Staff reported no objections to the variance and said no written public comments had been received.

Rebecca Wilbanks, the city staff representative filling in for Jacob, explained the ordinance restriction that requires drive‑thrus abutting residential districts to open no earlier than 7:00 a.m., and reviewed the five findings the board must make under Section 19‑404 (Table 19‑404‑1) to grant a variance.

Miguel Larue, representing the applicant (SevenBrew), described the business as drive‑thru only and said the request reflects the chain’s customer base, including shift workers, nurses and first responders who start work in the early morning. "We open for customers at about 5:30 a.m., but staff arrive earlier to prepare; the requested allowance accounts for that," Larue said. He also clarified that SevenBrew generally closes at 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and at 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Board members questioned whether the variance was based on proximity to residences or on whether parcels abut a residential zoning strip. Staff said notifications were mailed to property owners within a 200‑foot radius and that site signage was posted; no responses were returned. Members noted the site is on a busy commercial corridor with adjacent commercial uses (Burger King, Sardi's) and several vacant lots that the board said appear unlikely to become single‑family residential in the short term. Board members also reported that the three adjacent parcels are owned by the same person and that the owner supports redevelopment.

During discussion the board and applicant clarified application language so the variance record will explicitly permit a 5:00 a.m. opening allowance (applicant stated its customer service drive‑thru will operate at 5:30 a.m.) and a closing time of 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. A motion to approve the variance with that wording was seconded and carried by show of hands with no opposed votes reported. The board instructed staff to prepare the final, typed variance document reflecting the approved hours.

The action will be typed and finalized by staff; the official variance record will state the approved hours and any conditions the board attached. No mover or seconder names were recorded on the public audio transcript and no roll‑call vote totals were entered in the hearing record.