Thread by @shayshinecastle

No presentation for this one that I saw, though staff has one. It's about Planning Board denying an application for a Raising Cane's chicken restaurant, with a drive-thru, on 28th Street (3033 28th)

There is a drive-thru cattie-corner to this; that was approved in 2008.

I tried to find out when the last drive-thru was OK'd in Boulder; staff told me the McDonald's on Baseline was approved in 2021, but that biz was already there, obviously.

I haven't gotten an answer yet as to what, exactly, was approved. It must have been a modification, bc again, McDonald's was already there.

Sorry no presentation link on this; I didn't get emailed one.

Drive-thrus have kind of been a no-no in Boulder for as long as I can remember. There's been a lot of agita about them, bc Boulder doesn't want to promote driving.

They are allowed through a process called use review, which requires staff approval and sometimes Planning Board and city council.

In this case, Planning Board found that the drive-thru would impact bikes and peds, and the hours of operations would impact neighbors — the drive-thru is primarily for the benefit of non-nearby residents, they said

Council can let this decision stand, or call it up, which means they make their own call on this one.

Luna, Friend's dog: Bark

I just found this 2018 story about drive-thrus, and I was like oh, cool, I wonder what happened!

I wrote it. dailycamera.com/2018/09/24/pla…

Winer to LuAron Foster, from Raising Cane's: Would you be open to changing your hours?

Yes, Foster says. Nearby Raising Cane's are open until 11 p.m.

OK, so I read my story that I wrote in 2018 and completely forgot about, but it looks like the last approved new drive-thru was in 2017... for a Walgreen's that literally never got built.

So when Boulder's actual last new drive-thru was... still unknown. If you know, hit me up!

Yates: Planning staff worked with this applicant for 2 years, then Planning Board denied it. I'd like to understand why from both parties. And what changes could we suggest that would be acceptable?

So he wants to call it up. We'll see who else agrees.

Yates: I don't think that's our policy" that drive-thrus are "frowned upon." There were already 2 drive-thrus at this property (they're vacant now) there are 3 nearby.

Yates: If council or Planning Board is going to adopt a policy that drive-thrus aren't permitted anymore, that's pretty significant. We'd need to discuss that and let the public know.

"I just don't know what Plan B is. There's a Plan A on the table. If we allowed this to be denied, I think they just sit there for the foreseeable future," Yates says.

Friend: "We don't see a lot of denials on use review applications, but I think there's value in us providing a level of review and making sure our policies are being implemented fairly." Also wants to call it up.

Speer: Planning Board had an incredibly thoughtful discussion. They gave some options so the applicant could come back. This is something I think we can delegate to "one of our very well-functioning boards."

Wallach agrees! Some strange alliances this evening...

"I would urge our Planning Board and staff to work with this applicant to shape something that is more acceptable, but for us to be micromanaging an application for a restaurant is not what our job should be about."

Winer wants to call it up: Rushing doesn't make sense. I'd like to learn more, visit the site.

Folkerts is with Speer, Wallach: I don't see Planning Board saying that no drive-thrus are acceptable. It's about the intensity of use and the hours.

Benjamin, too: We should set the precedent that when our boards unanimously make a decision, we have to trust in the work they do and their expertise. This can be reconciled with the applicant, board and staff. We don't need to be the arbiter.

Brockett wants to call it up.

So that's a split council.

Joseph is the deciding vote, and she goes with no.

Yates, Brockett, Winer, Friend - wanted to review this Planning Board decision
Folkerts, Benjamin, Speer, Wallach, Joseph did not

So Planning Board's denial will stand, but a revised proposal may come back.