Neighborhood Commercial Drive-Thru Development Code Amendment

The applicant requests review and recommendation of a proposed development code amendment to Table 05-030-B, Table of Uses- Nonresidential Zones. The proposed text amendment specifies that drive through facilities incidental to an allowed use are permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial zone under the following provisions:

1. The drive through is only permitted for Financial Services and Pharmacy Uses

2. The property is on a parcel adjacent to a UDOT Principal Arterial or along the 2100 North Corridor

3. The design is pedestrian oriented, and those elements are shown in the site plan

4. The design shields headlights from adjacent properties

The DRC had five comments on the proposed Code amendment, including the following:

1. Allowing any kind of drive thru in the NC zone will start to erode the intent of the Zone, which is to provide goods and services within close proximity to the adjacent residential areas that are walkable and not auto-oriented.
2. An alternative to changing the table of uses, would be to request a General Plan amendment to Commercial which allows for drive-thrus and may be suitable for this location considering the high volume of traffic on 2300 W and 2100 N.

The applicant worked with Staff after DRC to update the text amendment and resolve the comments to the best of their ability. This included some updates to the wording and the addition of the provisions. While Staff still has some concerns about allowing drive throughs in the Neighborhood Commercial zone at all, the applicant’s proposed update has tailored the Code text to meet a very specific set of criteria which will limit the proliferation of more drive throughs if approved.