Monroeville planning panel approves 7 Brew drive‑thru proposal at William Penn Highway site

The Monroeville Planning Commission approved two related applications on July 15 allowing 7 Brew to construct a 510‑square‑foot modular drive‑thru coffee shop and a separate cooler/support building at 4111 William Penn Highway.

Bob Gage, who identified himself as with Who Brew LLC and as a franchisee of Seven Brew Coffee, presented the project and its site plan. He told the commission the proposal is for a 100% drive‑through operation with a double drive‑thru configuration, two queue lanes, and a bypass lane. "We are proposing to construct a 510 square foot drive thru coffee shop with an associated cooler building," Gage said.

Gage described the design as providing stacking for 31 cars and 17 employee parking spaces, including one accessible stall, and said the operation typically sees peak volumes between 6–8 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. He explained the business model uses employees in the queue to take orders on tablets; "these facilities... will have seven to eight cars in the queue," he said, adding that the design accommodates larger surges.

Staff (Paul) introduced the agenda items and cited the applications as requests for site plan approval and conditional‑use approval under Monroeville zoning ordinance No. 2779 (as amended) to permit the drive‑thru and multiple principal structures on one parcel, tax parcel 743H040 in the Boulevard zoning district.

Gage said municipal reviewers have provided comments and that the applicant is addressing cleanup items. He also said the project is using the same traffic engineer as an adjacent car wash and that a traffic analysis has been submitted to the state Department of Transportation and is under review. "Once that is back, then the HOP will be able to be reviewed and approved," he said, referring to the highway occupancy permit process.

Commission members asked about separation from adjacent uses, existing site topography and a retaining wall, trash enclosure screening, ADA access and how the modular components will be delivered and assembled. Gage said the building will be delivered on trucks and assembled on site, and that an ADA ramp will replace existing stairs to provide required access from Penn Highway.

After the presentation and brief questions, the commission moved to approve both the site plan and conditional‑use applications. A voice vote was taken and the chair declared the motions approved.

The commission closed the meeting without scheduling additional hearings on the project; staff indicated traffic‑permit review with DOT remains pending and that final approvals will depend on addressing reviewers' comments and any required permits.