7Brew’s plans for a new coffee shop in northwest Emporia are percolating once again.
The coffee shop plans for a new location at 2803 Eaglecrest, in the same parking lot as a Taco Bell, cleared a major hurdle with the Lyon County Joint Board of Zoning Appeals voting unanimously to approve a variance for the property despite ongoing concerns about traffic and resulting safety nearby. BZA member Aaron Larson made the motion to approve, saying data developed by 7Brew and city staff indicated some “pain points” throughout the day if 7Brew moves forward, but…
The study as presented indicates a noticeable increase in traffic between the 6 am and 7 am hours from nearly 50 vehicles to over 110 just for 7Brew customers. Traffic then gradually declines through the day and becomes virtually nonexistent by 10 pm. Of that traffic, most of the traffic would be evenly split leaving 7Brew northbound or southbound — with two key exceptions. Between 80 and 90 percent of departing drivers would leave the parking lot northbound before 7 am, with the majority of drivers leaving northbound again after 6 pm.
Combined with existing traffic at 18th and Eaglecrest, 23 percent of northbound drivers approaching the intersection would turn left towards Emporia High, Emporia Middle School and Flint Hills Technical College. Four percent would go straight towards McDonalds. The remaining 73 percent turn right towards Industrial Road.
Data presented Tuesday night indicates 7Brew’s peak demand time does not match with the 18th and Eaglecrest peak traffic times around lunchtime and the evening commute, although there is elevated traffic near that intersection as early as 7 am.
Board member Denise Gilligan says the current data may not be accurate, given the additions of Panda Express near 18th and Industrial and QuikTrip near the junction of Interstate 35 and the Kansas Turnpike. Fellow board member Stan Fowler, who seconded the motion, brought up foot traffic from Emporia High and Emporia Middle School as another concern, and there are other concerns about traffic backlog for Eaglecrest, Industrial and 18th. Larson tells KVOE News the data presented Tuesday did not address foot traffic, focusing only on vehicles. He says that area of town is part of a wider study coming soon.
The variance request involves underground infrastructure, according to City Planning and Zoning Director Justin Givens.
Givens says there is room for the 7Brew building near the north side of the property, even with the variance.
Larson says people need to realize the BZA and Planning Commission don’t have any power over where businesses want to set up shop.
Plans for a 2-lane drive-thru setup were challenged by the BZA because of concerns about traffic in and out of the parking lot, as well as the potential traffic impacts on Eaglecrest at both 18th and Industrial nearby. Part of Tuesday’s discussion went into the QuikTrip development, with some thought the development itself may take some traffic pressure off the 18th and Industrial area by itself and the new roundabout near QuikTrip may also take some traffic away just people want to avoid 18th and Industrial.
Once the BZA ended its business, the Planning Commission reviewed minutes of special meetings June 23 and 30, as well as the board’s regular meeting last month. Tuesday night’s meetings were held virtually because of credible threats to city staff and city commissioners the last two months. Those threats remain under investigation by Emporia Police.
