ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Allentown Planning Commission on Tuesday granted preliminary/final plan approval for a drive-thru-only coffee shop.

The plan, known as Seven Brew Coffee, calls for a 540-square-foot premanufactured building with a 280-square-foot remote cooler and storage structure at 385 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in the Shops at Cedar Point, where the applicant intends to demolish a former Boston Market Restaurant. The plan had previously been offered for 2952 Lehigh St.

A representative with Seven Brew described the company at the commission’s Aug. 12 meeting as mixture of Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. In addition to coffee, the site will also sell tea, lemonade, smoothies and shakes.

The property will have two entrance lanes and one exit lane.

Planners who spoke about the initial plan expressed concerns about vehicles exiting the site more than entering the location and the scope of traffic the business would generate. Vehicle cueing was also cited as an issue. Further, some expressed concerns about nearby homeowners and stressed the importance of landscape buffering in addition to an existing fence.

Planners were more favorable to the new location, although they expressed concerns about a dumpster location, as it was “projecting out toward the intersection,” according to Chairman Christian Brown. However, the issue was not substantial enough to reject or table the project, and the applicant took the issue under advisement.

Warehouse plan extension

Planners granted an extension request that involves the Allentown Commerce Park warehouse project, offered for 1601 S. 12th St.

The project calls for the construction of a 154,440-square-foot facility featuring 36 loading docks and 43 trailer parking spaces. The extension runs through Sept. 30, 2026.

“There is a strategic plan for this warehouse site,” attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick, representing the applicant, told the commission. “We’re here to ask for a one-year extension. There is no intention to push this out past one year.”

Apartment request

A second request involving The Swans Apartment, which included a reinstatement and extension request, was tabled, as no one from the application appeared at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting.

The project calls for a seven-story, 142-unit building with on-site parking along with retail space at 826 Turner St.