The Planning Commission voted 5-4 to recommend approval for a zoning change to allow a new Scooter's Coffee on South Broad Street.
The location is in a former bank that was later an antique store. It backs up to Charger Drive and is across from Chattanooga Christian School.
An amendment says there should be no traffic going onto Charger Drive from the coffee shop.
There will be an entrance off Broad, then an exit onto Broad.
Mike Price, representing Scooter's, said a section where there were large doors at the rear will be torn off.
An existing window that the bank used will also be taken off and replaced with a new drive-thru window.
Planning Commission member Nathan Bird, who is also president of the St. Elmo community group, had moved to deny. He said the current CMU zone was aimed at moving commercial buildings close to the front.
Nathan Janeway, county development official, seconded the motion.
Barry Payne, developer, sponsored the motion to approve after the initial motion failed.