Council moves forward with Starbucks drive-through despite traffic concerns

The village committee reviewed a special-use and variance request for a Starbucks with a drive-through at 234 North Northwest Highway and voted to forward the proposal for council approval after extensive discussion about traffic and queuing.

Staff noted the applicant revised the site plan at the Zoning Board of Appeals’ request and that the ZBA recommended approval 6–1. The staff presentation said the revised plan narrows the access throat onto Colfax and adds a landscape barrier and employee parking to address turning-movement concerns. “The ZBA did recommend by a vote of 6 to 1 to approve the site plan that you see before you,” staff told the committee.

Council members pressed the petitioner on bypass lanes and stacking. The traffic consultant told the committee the site is expected to accommodate roughly nine cars in the drive‑through queue and that most peak trips are right‑in/right‑out. As the traffic consultant put it, “we anticipate at least over 65% of those vehicles to be turning right in, right out.” Petition representatives said Starbucks has experience managing stacking and that delivery logistics can be conditioned to avoid neighborhood impacts.

Committee members also asked about employee parking and the risk of employees parking on nearby residential streets; petition representatives said employees could use designated employee spaces and that Starbucks encourages alternative commuting options. The committee voted to put the item on the evening consent agenda; the record shows the motion carried at committee level and the item was later moved forward at council.