Florence is reviewing plans for a new 7 Brew Coffee, an autism support facility and EV charger expansion in the city.
On Tuesday, Florence officials discussed the three projects the Boone County Planning Commission recommended, and Director of Community Development Todd Morgan presented requests for proposals.
Council did not vote on the recommendations, but had an opportunity to discuss them. The vote is planned for their next council meeting.
7 Brew Coffee
Morgan began with a request for a zone change for a site that includes two buildings at 8109 and 8113 US 42 near Lacresia Drive. The buildings on the approximate 1.5-acre site are Rawlings Foundation and Rawlings Company buildings. They would be torn down to make room for a new 7 Brew Coffee, a drive-through-only coffee shop chain.
The request is for a zone change from Suburban Residential One and Office Two to Commercial Services. The developers are also asking for a change of concept development plan for a small section (.3 acre) and a variance to reduce the buffer yard width along the easternmost boundary line of the project from 10 feet to 3 feet.
The site would include a 538-square-foot main building with an additional 238-square-foot cooler and storage building, said Morgan. Because the store is drive-through only there would be no public eating space inside the building.
Cars could turn into the property from the right or left. There would be two exit driveways. One is a channelized driveway to exit right only. Another, 14-foot driveway, would run along the back. The planning commission conditioned that driveway to be one way and exit only turning left.
The drive-through portion can accommodate up to 24 cars. Morgan also pointed out that the buffer zone between the building and the residential area behind the property would be up to 60 feet wide and landscaped.
Due to the narrow space, a variance was requested for a small section of the buffer zone between the property and its neighbor, White Castle. An underground detention vault would be included to handle stormwater.
Connections: Skills for Life facility
Next, Morgan presented a request made by Connections: Skills for Life, Inc., for a property at 45 Cavalier Blvd. The site is a 5,000-square-foot building on a .88-acre lot near Christo Rey Church. He said there are 43 parking spaces.
The applicant asked for a Change of Concept to allow the building to be used for a life learning skills, day care, medical, office or associated uses. The original use for that building was as a medical office facility.
Connections: Skills for Life is a nonprofit facility dedicated to serving individuals aged 11 to 21 with high-functioning autism. Members and their families work with certified educators and others to learn vital communication and social skills and to enjoy some recreation. A “demonstration apartment” in the building would be used by students to practice daily living skills.
With their request, Connections included a list of other potential uses of the building should they vacate it in the future. These could include an art gallery, medical or dental office, veterinary office, personal services business, daycare center and similar types of businesses. The planning commission refined the list and included it as a condition.
Morgan noted one of the planning commission’s conditions was for landscaping on the property to make it code-compliant. The applicant included a landscaping plan.
The facility would be occupied by no more than 30 people at a time, with 10 per classroom. The program is mostly after school and one Saturday per month, he said.
Tesla charging station expansion
The final presentation was a request by SMJ International on behalf of Tesla to add more EV charging spaces to the charging station site located in the parking lot at Meijer’s at 4990 Houston Road. The change of concept would be to allot an additional .16 acre from the parking lot for the additional spaces.
Morgan said the plan is to convert 24 parking stalls to 16 charger spaces, with 14 standard, one ADA compliant, and one truck/trailer space. A new 14.4-foot by 29.7-foot equipment enclosure would also be included.
The planning commission asked that the applicant add one tree that would help shield the facility from the store.
Florence council is expected to vote on the planning commission recommendations at the next council meeting on March 11.