The Oxford Planning Commission approved a special exception to allow a drive-thru service for Shadrachs Coffee which is planning to open a second Oxford location.

The new coffee shop is planned to be built on 2405 South Lamar Blvd., just south of the newly constructed Oxford Self Storage building across from the intersection of Harlan Drive.

The site plan for the restaurant is under review by city planning staff.

Drive-thrus are only allowed in Traditional Neighborhood Business zoning by a special exception.

There are two existing curb cuts at the site and Shadrachs is planning to make the southern one an exit only forcing incoming traffic to the northern one. 

This allows 11 spaces in a double lane for stacking on the east side of the building before getting to the row of parking and another roughly six in a single lane on the west and south sides. 

This is similar to the number of stacking spaces at the West Jackson location. 

City planning staff said the amount of stacking is appropriate.

Shadrachs is responsible for the operation of the queue to ensure that it does not extend onto the public right-of-way. 

The city received two letters of objection.

One resident who lives in the area spoke before the commission. She said she was fine with having a coffee shop on the road but had concerns regarding the drive-thru causing too much traffic backup. 

City Attorney Pope Mallette told the commission that should staff determine that the stacking queue for the drive-thru is creating a safety concern due to it not being managed within the site and extending into the public right of way. The applicant will appear before the Planning Commission for reconsideration of the special exception.