- Boone County Planning Commission recommended approval of the concept plan for a 3,500-square-foot Jaggers with two drive-thru lanes.
- Conditions focus on upgraded building materials, traffic safety, crosswalks, and shared access with nearby businesses.
- If finalized by Fiscal Court, construction could begin as early as April, according to the developer.
Boone County is one step closer to getting Northern Kentucky’s first Jaggers franchise.
Jaggers, a restaurant franchise under the Louisville-based Texas Roadhouse umbrella, plans to open a new location on a 1.55-acre parcel of land on the northwest side of Houston Road in Florence. The parcel is situated between Family Allergy & Asthma and Texas Roadhouse, with frontage on Houston Road and access through Spiral Drive and Thoroughbred Boulevard.
Frankfort-based architecture firm GreenbergFarrow submitted a concept development change request to the Boone County Planning Commission that, if approved, would allow for a 3,500-square-foot drive-thru restaurant with 93 indoor seats and two drive-thru lanes.
Jaggers is a fast-casual restaurant franchise that primarily sells burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, salads, and milkshakes. Currently, there are two Jaggers locations in Kentucky: one in Lexington and the other in Louisville. The prospective Florence location would be the chain’s third in the Bluegrass State. Overall, there are 14 Jaggers locations across the United States and one in South Korea.
On Wednesday, the Boone County Planning Commission recommended approval of GreenbergFarrow’s concept development plan, which included 16 conditions. Most of these focused on regulating the building’s exterior appearance, managing traffic flow, and ensuring integration with nearby businesses.
Key requirements include redesigning the rear elevation to eliminate a large blank wall and upgrading the side facades so that at least half of the materials are higher-quality finishes, such as brick or architectural block. The drive-through canopy must have support poles wrapped in brick, follow stacking standards, and include a barrier to prevent vehicles from entering the incorrect lane.
Additionally, the committee mandated better site circulation, such as a one-way eastbound drive lane and two illuminated crosswalks: one to connect the project with Texas Roadhouse and another to link shared parking areas.
Other conditions pertain to site aesthetics, such as coordinating light poles, improving landscaping in parking islands, and screening roof-mounted mechanical equipment.
Planning Commission Chairman Charlie Rolfsen asked whether drivers would have roadway access to the other neighboring businesses, namely Texas Roadhouse and Family Allergy & Asthma.
Boone County Zoning Administrator Michael Schwartz said that shared cross-access connections exist and shared parking agreements will be required.
“There’s going to be this drive aisle that goes east from Jaggers to Texas Roadhouse,” he said. “There’s this primary east/west, and then there is the connection right here to the asthma office and parking area.”
Regarding parking, Texas Roadhouse representative Emily Taylor stated that Jaggers typically requires 35 parking spaces. During a public hearing on Nov. 5, concerns were raised about whether Jaggers would impact parking at the neighboring Texas Roadhouse due to their proximity. Taylor assured the commission that sufficient parking is included in the concept plan.
Taylor said the plan is for construction to begin next spring.
“I think that our intent would be to start sometime in April,” she said. “As soon as we can get through, we’ve already gone in for permitting with the City of Florence.”
Since the planning commission has recommended approval, the final decision on the request now rests with the Boone County Fiscal Court, which has the ultimate authority on all zoning issues.