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Home My WebLink AboutDirection - Drive-through Restaurants CITY OF PALM DESERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION REGARDING POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF AREAS IN WHiCH DRIVE-THROUGH RESTAURANTS ARE PERM(TTED W(THIN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT SUBMITTED BY: Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development DATE: August 22, 2013 ��g�� _�,� � ��3 .,�. CONTENTS: Ordinance No. 827 �CONTi�i��3 TO� L� PAss�e�o z��a�� * By Minute Motion, continue is ma e as � Recommendation more information has been received from the Envision Palm Desert Strategic Planning Process. 4-1 (Benson NO) By Minute Motion, direct staff to: 1. lnitiate a zoning ordinance amendment allowing drive-through restaurants citywide; or 2. Initiate a zoning ordinance amendment to allow drive-through restaurants in additional, clearly defined locations (such as north of Frank Sinatra Drive); or 3. Make no change to the zoning ordinance regarding drive-through restaurants. Executive Summary This agenda item is brought forward in response to Councilmember Bob Spiegel's request during the June 27, 2013, meeting of the City Council. Drive-through restaurants are currently permitted only near Interstate 10 interchanges; they are prohibited elsewhere in the City. Changing this long-standing prohibition in a deliberative, controlled manner, and with the quality development standards for which Palm Desert is known, will take support by a majority of the Council and a concerted work effort by staff. To efficiently deploy those work efforts, staff is requesting that the City Council provide some general scoping guidance before work is commenced. Staff Report Drive-Through Restaurants Page 2 of 3 August 22, 2013 Backaround When the City of Palm Desert was incorporated, drive-through restaurants were prohibited. However, in July 1996, the City Council expressed a desire to treat the areas around the Interstate 10 (I-10) interchanges differently from the rest of the City, so as to be competitive with other Coachella Valley cities along the I-10. In particular, they saw reasons to allow drive-through restaurants and to locate automobile service stations closer together than was permitted elsewhere in the City. The City Council asked staff to research these issues farther and prepare an ordinance for their consideration. In March 1997, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 827 (attached), which established a special overlay zone around the freeway interchanges. This overlay zone allows conditional uses that are appropriate for a freeway setting, such as drive-through restaurants, car washes, gas stations, convenience stores, mini warehouses, and recreational vehicle and boat storage. The precise areas in which drive-through restaurants are permitted have changed over the years as underlying zones were changed, subsequent projects were entitled, and master plans were approved. Presently, drive-through restaurants are allowed as conditional uses on master-planned sites larger than five acres in the areas shown in red below: � �� '��'''�� 0 NAH D � < � J�� .. �; r! $ OEPAIL�fC�P.�� P. I � awan r�w.i �°`' � r 5 � � 4 N. _ �� q � ��;f� �T �� $ h ,TFNI{.3Y. � R MK�3iMA'fiA�_R �� ~ FNANF�IINhTR UR i T7 y�r�t�°� . � � '�-_- .,..,. - � w .,.• � � � CQUN7RY W6 DR > CCUM7P.Y ClU6 DR I Y I �MSM g:lplanning\lauri aylaian\staff reportslamended drive through restaurants 8-22-13.doc Staff Report Drive-Through Restaurants Page 3 of 3 August 22, 2013 At the June 27, 2013, City Council Meeting, Councilmember Bob Spiegel asked staff to place an item on the agenda for the August 22, 2013, Council meeting that would eliminate the ban on fast food drive-throughs in the City of Palm Desert. Preparation of an ordinance to allow drive-throughs throughout the City will take meaningful research to balance economic development potential against aesthetic design standards and traffic engineering. A proposed ordinance will also need to be considered in public hearings in front of the Planning Commission before it is presented to the Ciry Council. As such, staff is taking this opportunity to confirm Council direction regarding the scope of a change, if any, in the areas in which drive-through restaurants should be permitted. This will allow staff to work more effectively, and to more accurately meet the expectations of the full Council. Consequently, staff requests that the members of the City Council provide direction on where drive-through restaurants should be allowed: Evervwhere in the City; only near I- 10 interchanqes, as is now the case; or in additional, clearlv defined areas (north of Gerald Ford Drive or on Highway 111, as examples). With this information, staff can prepare a zoning ordinance amendment that will reflect the general intent of the Ciry Council. If appropriate, the City Council might also want to appoint two of its members to a subcommittee to work with staff to create the development standards for drive-throughs. The zoning ordinance amendment will then be brought forward to a public hearing before the Planning Commission; the recommendations of that Commission will be presented to the Ciry Council. Fiscal Analysis Direction given in response to this staff report will not have any direct fiscal impact on the Ciry. If the Council directs staff to prepare an ordinance allowing more drive-through restaurants, that ordinance will be presented with an estimation of the financial impact to the City from potential new restaurants. Submitted By: �� --� �`---� / �� ' �--� , ��- auri Aylaian, Director of Community Development Ap ov I: Joh . Wohlmuth, Ciry Manager g:�planningUauri aylaian�staff reports�amendetl drive through restaurants 8-22-13.doc Klassen, Rachelle Subject: FW: Contact Us Submission -----Original Message----- From: inf ci.palm-desert.ca.us [mailto:info@ci.palm-desert.ca.us] Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 10:36 AM To: InformationMail Subject: Contact Us Submission Submission information ----------------------------------------- Submitter DB ID : 2270 Submitter's language : Default language IP address : 38.82.192.194 Time to take the survey : 3 min. , 48 sec. Submission recorded on : 8/8/2013 10:35:50 AM Survey answers ----------------------------------------- Your Contact Information First name: * Julie Last name: * Harris E-mail Address: * magickal.bkpr�averizon.net Address line 1 43155 Portola Ave. Address line 2 125 City Palm Desert State CA Zip code: * 92260 Phone number 760-341-9149 I Am a: Palm Desert Business Owner [] Palm Desert Resident [x] Comments: RE: Drive thrus Councilman Tanner is wrong. I have lived in Palm Desert since 1984 so I am one of the long time residents he decided he knew and could speak form. No, I do not like going up to the freeway when it is hot and I have my dog in the car and want to pick up some food. Not only do I not like it, I don't DO it. Since there are more choices for me in Bermuda Dunes and La Quinta, THAT is where I go. So my City is losing the tax dollars I would like it to have because of this absurd ban. BTW, the Del Taco in Palm Desert's parking lot has WAY more litter in it than the parking lots at the two Del Tacos in Palm Springs where I work. So even that reason is false. I would have loved to have Popeyes here. I love their food. And again, I drive to NOT PALM DESERT to get it. 1 Klassen, Rachelle Subject: FW: Contact Us Submission Original Message From: infoOaci.palm-desert.ca.us rmailto:info(0ci.palm-desert.ca.us] Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 8:50 AM To: InformationMail Subject: Contact Us Submission Submission information Submitter DB ID : 2281 Submitter's language : Default language IP address : 71.102.4.140 Time to take the survey : 5 min. , 45 sec. Submission recorded on : 8/22/2013 8:49:56 AM Survey answers Your Contact Information First name: * Douglass Last name: * Kopp E-mail Address: * koppdouayahoo.com Address line 1 44870 Cabrillo Address line 2 Not answered City Palm Desert State CA Zip code: * 92260 Phone number 760-674-3027 I Am a: Palm Desert Business Owner [] Palm Desert Resident [x] 0 Comments: I am writing in support of keeping the fast food drive thru policy the same. I think drive thru lines are fine along the freeway, but they would lower the high standard expected in Palm Desert if allowed along Highway 111 through the center of out community. Thank you. 1