HomeMy WebLinkAboutPINECONE PUD THE TOWER SHOPPES SONIC DRIVE IN PRELIMINARY - 60 91N - CORRESPONDENCE - REZONING RELATED DOCUMENT (2)�. Nl
Licensed Franchlsee of. nic Inc.
MEMO TO: City of Fort Collins, Community Planning and Environmental Services
FROM: David Beard (Sonic Drive -In)
DATE: September 15, 2004
RE: Requested Zoning Change as Part of Semi -Annual Zoning Review;
Section 4.19 (B)(2)(c) 2. — Deletion of "Without Drive-thru Facilities"
This memorandum is to petition the City of Fort Collins to delete the wording in the
above cited Land Use Code section that restricts fast food restaurants in the NC Zone from
having drive-thru facilities.
Fast food restaurants are an appropriate use in the NC Zoning, and drive-thru facilities are
customary, desirable, and also very appropriate.
I understand that drive-thru facilities are permitted for fast food restaurants in C-
Commercial Zones. Many banks and some pharmacies also have drive-thru facilities. Any
objection to drive-thru facilities on the basis of alleged air pollution would seem to be as valid
(or invalid) in C-Commercial areas as in the NC -zoned areas. I question the significance of any
such pollution generated by drive-thru facilities, and would be very interested to examine any
data the City may have in this regard. However, again, the environmental argument seems moot
given that the City does permit drive-thru facilities in many instances.
Good site design, over which the City has strict review, would appear sufficient to cure
any possible traffic circulation issues that may arise with drive-thru facilities in individual cases.
It appears very difficult to distinguish between C-Commercial areas and those areas
zoned NC with regard to reasons why the former areas may have fast food restaurants with drive-
thru facilities and the latter areas cannot. NC areas, like C-Commercial areas, are typically
located on arterial or major arterial highways, and normally at corners of two arterials. Fast food
restaurants with drive-thru facilities (and banks) are often located at identical intersections. To
the extent there are NC -zoned areas that are not on the most significant roads, I would suggest
that it would reduce traffic on the major roads to allow fast food restaurants with drive-thru
facilities to locate in those areas, as well. Probably more pollution is caused by forcing people to
drive to College Avenue to get to their favorite drive-thru and back home than if they had the
ability to go through a drive-thru at a more proximately located NC -zoned property. As of late,
the citizens of Fort Collins have been reluctant to tax themselves to pay for street improvements,
and it would seem to help the situation to allow drive-thru's in NC -zoned areas.
35061 Cornerstone Way • Windsor, CO 80550-2017
Phone: 07("N-72110
NI
Liccnsevl NYanchlsec of Sonic Inc.
The trend is toward more drive-thru facilities throughout the country. This city has some
excellent examples of fast food drive-thru restaurants. The Wendy's restaurants have three fine
facilities, and would like to expand with the ability to have drive-thru's. McDonalds has rebuilt
one of its stores, and is in the process of rebuilding its second store. They found it necessary to
go to I-25 and Mulberry in the unincorporated county so as to have a drive-thru. Sonic has been
trying to expand in Fort Collins since 1999, but has not been able to find a site in the City that
meets all of the requirements and has a chance of being profitable.
I would note that presently there are, by my count, 44 restaurants and I 1 banks in the
Harmony Corridor. Not one of the restaurants has a drive-thru, although with some of them food
can be ordered ahead of time by telephone and the restaurant will bring the food to one's car to
take home. Sounds a lot like a drive-thru. All of the banks have drive-thru's, some with
canopies bigger than any drive-thru restaurant I have ever seen, and at times there are lines as
long as any line in a drive-thru restaurant in the drive-thru bank facilities.
Under these circumstances, it seems somewhat absurd to disallow drive-thru facilities in
the NC Zone.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
35061 Cornerstone Way • N7ndsor. CO 80550-2617
Phone:970-68C.7286