The Homewood Village Board approved a special use permit and zoning variance at the June 9 meeting to allow a 7Brew drive-thru coffee shop at 17855 Halsted St.
The project, proposed by Who Brew LLC, would replace the existing 4,800-square-foot building, the former site of a Boston Market restaurant, with a new 1,031-square-foot coffee shop designed exclusively for drive-thru customers, Noah Schumerth, interim director of economic and community development said.
The business will feature two drive-thru lanes that will be able to accommodate at least 22 vehicles on site. Rather than using traditional menu boards, employees will take orders from customers waiting in line and deliver drinks through service windows on the building, Schumerth said.
The redevelopment plan also includes new parking spaces along Halsted Street, landscaping improvements and utility connections to serve the building. Access to the site will be provided through the existing private drive in front of nearby businesses, he said.
In addition to approving the special use permit, the board granted a variance allowing a reduction in the required landscape buffer along the front of the property. The request was necessary due to the site’s narrow configuration and the adjacent Illinois Department of Transportation parkway. The variance reduces the required landscape zone from 15 feet to 11 feet, 7 inches, Schumerth said.
“It’s an extremely narrow site, it’s only I think about 80 feet wide which sounds fairly wide, but for a commercial outlot it’s by far the narrowest on Halsted Street,” Schumerth said, adding, “to fit the drive-thru that they were asking for […] they asked for a slight reduction.”
Staff reviewed the proposal through the special use permit, variance and site plan review processes. Officials determined the project met local zoning requirements and development standards for restaurant uses, he said.
The Homewood Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the proposal May 28 and unanimously recommended approval of both the special use permit and variance by 6-0 votes. The commission also approved the site’s development plan, contingent upon village board approval and minor revisions to project drawings, he said.
According to Schumerth, the Appearance Commission separately granted conditional approval of the project’s design review in a 5-0 vote on May 7.
“I think it will be a fantastic addition. These 7Brews are popping up in a lot of different places,” Homewood Trustee Patrick Siemsen said.
According to Homewood Assistant Village Manager Terence Acquah, construction will likely take place later this year since the project will require time to obtain permits and demolish the former Boston Market site.
