Title:
title
Foxtail Coffee Special Exception - Consider a Special Exception for an Alcoholic Beverage Establishment for onsite consumption of beer and wine at an existing coffee shop in the PD (Planned Development) zoning district on 1.23 acres, located at 8085 Red Bug Lake Rd, Oviedo; BS2026-05 (Stevenson Solomon Francois, Applicant) District 2 - Zembower (Chad Harvey, Planner)
end
Agenda Category:
Public Hearing Items
Department/Division:
division
Development Services
body
Authorized By:
Joy Giles - Planning Division Manager
Contact/Phone Number:
Chad Harvey 407-665-7341
Background:
The Applicant currently operates the Foxtail Coffee Shop in a commercial plaza located at 8085 Red Bug Lake Rd and would like to serve beer and wine for onsite consumption. The coffee shop establishment has a PD (Planned Development) zoning classification known as the Oviedo Market Place PD. Per the PD conditions of approval, alcoholic beverage establishments require approval of a Special Exception.
The existing coffee shop establishment is 2,000 square feet in size and seats sixty-seven (67) total customers, that includes four (4) seats located outside on the front patio. The current hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The Seminole County Land Development Code (SCLDC) requires alcoholic beverage establishments to meet a minimum separation distance of 500 feet from the nearest entrance of any public, private or parochial school. The existing coffee shop is located approximately 2,100 linear feet from the nearest entrance of a private school known as The Voluntary School, located within the Oviedo Mall, meeting the minimum distance separation requirements.
STAFF FINDINGS
In reviewing Special Exception requests, Section 30.3.1.5(a) of the Seminole County Land Development Code requires that the Planning and Zoning Commission shall hold a public hearing to consider the proposed Special Exception and submit in writing its recommendations to approve, approve with conditions or deny the Special Exception request to the Board of County Commissioners for official action. After review of an application and a public hearing thereon, with due public notice, the Board of County Commissioners may allow uses for which a Special Exception is required; provided, however, that said Board must first make a determination that the use requested:
(1) Is not detrimental to the character of the area or neighborhood or inconsistent with trends of development in the area:
Staff Analysis:
The coffee shop is within an existing multi-tenant building in a commercial plaza on Red Bug Lake Road, consisting of retail commercial uses and multiple restaurants such as BJ’s Brewhouse and Chilli’s that serve alcohol. There is also an ABC Liquor store directly across the street on the north side of Red Bug Lake Road. Therefore, the request is not detrimental to the character or inconsistent with the trend of development of the area.
(2) Does not have an unduly adverse effect on existing traffic patterns, movements and volumes:
Staff Analysis:
The establishment is located within an existing multi-tenant commercial building where traffic analyses have already been conducted to support the commercial uses. The site fronts a main thoroughfare and is accessed from Red Bug Lake Road, with all required parking provided onsite. Therefore, adding alcohol sales to the existing coffee shop establishment, simply expanding the selection of beverages offered, is not expected to result in any unduly adverse effects on existing traffic patterns, movements, or volumes. The establishment’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. These hours of operation are captured in the proposed Development Order
(3) Is consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Plan:
Staff Analysis:
The subject property has a Future Land Use (FLU) designation of Higher Intensity Planned Development - Transitional (HIP-TR). Pursuant to the Seminole County Comprehensive Plan, the purpose and intent of this designation is to provide for a variety of land uses, development intensities, transitional development and supportive residential uses. This land use is compatible with this area and the sale of alcohol which already exists along this corridor. The HIP-TR land use, is compatible with PD zoning. This PD provides for C-1 (Retail Commercial) uses and explicitly states that alcohol beverage establishments are permitted pending Special Exception approval. This property is located on Red Bug Lake Road, an urban minor arterial roadway, within the urban area of Seminole County; and therefore, is consistent with the Seminole County Comprehensive Plan.
(4) Will not adversely affect the public interest:
Staff Analysis:
The Oviedo Marketplace PD permits uses within the C-1 (Retail Commercial) district, including alcoholic beverage establishments with the granting of a Special Exception. Within this Planned Development, as well as along Red Bug Lake Road, there are numerous restaurants that serve alcohol such as BJ’s Brewhouse and Chilli’s, in addition to an ABC Liquor store. As measured in accordance with the Code, there is a separation distance of 2,188 linear feet between the entrance of the Foxtail Coffee Shop and the nearest entrance of the Oviedo Mall where the Voluntary School operates, exceeding the required 500-foot minimum distance separation. Therefore, granting the Special Exception will not adversely affect the public interest. The SCLDC limits the sale, bartering, exchange, or distribution of alcoholic beverages between the hours of 2:00 am and 7:00 am pursuant to Section 15.17(a), and requires that any outdoor entertainment or events be approved through a Special Event permit.
Community Meeting
In compliance with Seminole County Land Development Code Sec. 30.3.5 - Community meeting procedures, the Applicant conducted a community meeting on September 21, 2026. Details of the community meeting have been provided in the agenda package.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Planning and Zoning Commission, recommend to the Board of County Commissioners approval of the Special Exception and associated Development Order as per the following motion:
Based on Staff’s findings and the testimony and evidence received at the hearing, the Planning and Zoning Commission finds the request meets the identified portions of the Land Development Code and recommends the Board of County Commissioners approve the Special Exception, with conditions, for an Alcoholic Beverage Establishment for onsite consumption of beer and wine at an existing coffee shop in the PD (Planned Development) zoning district on 1.23 acres, located at 8085 Red Bug Lake Rd, Oviedo.