The details
The coffee shop brand, which has several North Texas locations, would have offered a variety of beverages including coffee, energy drinks, tea, smoothies and shakes. According to city documents, service would have been drive-thru only with no indoor seating or walk-up service. Per the documents, the coffee shop would have been located where The Velvet Snout was previously located—the space has been empty since 2020. Although the current zoning allows for the coffee shop, which is considered a restaurant, a special use permit is required for any business with drive-thru service in Richardson.
Some context
Council approved a previous special use permit request in 2022; however, franchise owner Scott Wilson said delays and miscommunication with the contractor postponed construction and the permit lapsed.
“We wish we would have been ahead of things and preserve the permit,” Wilson said.
Ultimately, council members decided the drive-thru coffee shop did not align with the vision for the area.
“My position is even more firm now that we’ve passed the Envision Richardson Comprehensive plan,” council member Jennifer Justice said. “I’ll maintain my position as last time and vote no as well.”
Per the documents, the city’s updated comprehensive plan, which was adopted in November, does not designate a specific use for the lot, but the area is envisioned as a mixed-use environment with retail, office and service uses.
Also on the agenda
Council also considered a special use permit for a second coffee shop, Haraz Coffee House, located at 508 Centennial Blvd., but postponed a decision to the Jan. 6 meeting to allow the developer a chance to address concerns raised by residents.
