Zaxby’s and Raising Cane’s push for drive-through permits in Dunwoody

Zaxby s application for double drive-through lanes was recommended by the Dunwoody Planning Commission Photo by Zaxby s The Dunwoody Planning Commission at its May meeting recommended approving a Special Use Land Use Permit to allow a drive-through restaurant at one location but did not endorse another After intense discussion both applications were deferred Raising Cane s and Zaxby s had sought the planning commission to consider allowing a drive-through window in locations in the Perimeter area Raising Cane s at a former Wells Fargo Bank building on Ashford Dunwoody Road and Zaxby s at the former PNC Bank location at Perimeter Center West in the Ashford Lane complex Raising Cane s necessities a rezoning of the proposed location to allow for the restaurant s construction A staff memo regarding Raising Cane s noted it endorsed with conditions the rezoning request but did not recommend the SLUP application that would allow Raising Cane s to install double drive-through lanes The specific proposal for a drive-through restaurant would be a burden on the existing streets due to the volume of traffic that would be routed through the non-conforming access point on Ashford Dunwoody Road the staff memo stated However rezoning the property from O-I to PC- disregarding the proposed drive-through is appropriate and brings the subject site s zoning in compliance with the Future Land Use envisioned for this area After Madalyn Smith Dunwoody s senior planner outlined the staff s analysis of the application Harold Buckley representing Raising Cane s talked about the company s rationale in requesting the SLUP arguing that he felt the drive-though would encouragement the goals of the city s comprehensive plan Buckley also mentioned the area has become unkempt since Wells Fargo vacated the space and is often the site of urban camping in the rear of the property and that improving the property would address those issues Two citizens spoke in advocacy of the zoning and SLUP application including Dunwoody Homeowners Association President Tim Brown who reported that Raising Cane s made a presentation at meeting in February which was met with a favorable response from the board Speaking in opposition to the application was Matthew Munoz the general manager of the Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter by Marriott who disclosed the traffic congestion that would be generated by Raising Cane s would be detrimental to the hotel s ingress and egress Buckley requested at the beginning of his presentation a -day deferral of the application so the company can address the concerns raised that precipitated the SLUP denial recommendation Buckley also disclosed that he has reached out to Munoz multiple times to set up a meeting to discuss the hotel s concerns but have yet to connect I would still love to make that meeting happen Buckley stated Raising Cane s is a rapidly growing American fast casual chain that specializes in chicken fingers The first location opened on Aug in Baton Rouge La It has become a cult favorite in college towns around the Southeast Representative from Raising Cane s declared historically about percent of its business is generated through its drive-throughs After questioning the applicant s representatives about specifics regarding the plan the panel voted unanimously to defer action on the application The planning commission also discussed an application by Zaxby s to build a double-drive through-lane restaurant in the Ashford Lane complex The city s staff recommended the SLUP be approved According to a staff memo the proposed drive-through facility was identified to be consistent with the policies and intent of the Comprehensive Plan and finds that it meets the review and approval criteria necessary for approval Smith noted comparing the two applications and coming to their individual recommendations had everything to do with orientation and access The staff memo recommended approval of the SLUP with four conditions including crosswalks and the addition of an outdoor heated patio The DHA board at its April meeting had heard from attorney Kathy Zickert representing Zaxby s which is attempting to build a -square-foot flagship location at the former PNC Bank location at Perimeter Center West in the Ashford Lane complex Attendees at the April DHA meeting questioned whether a -car stack meaning the number of cars in line for the drive-through on the property would be sufficient for the demand and further congest an already overtaxed area Zickert also represented the owners at the May meeting and answered questions regarding the application She disclosed only one of the more than Zaxby s locations does not have a drive-through I think that we are presenting a viable option for this space she mentioned Brown spoke in favor of the SLUP saying that the company had addressed the issues raised at the April DHA meeting and that the board felt that it would be an excellent addition to the population Nobody spoke in opposition to the application After the board questioned Zickert multiple questions about the proposal it voted unanimously to defer the SLUP in order to consider a traffic inquiry regarding the restaurant s traffic impact on the area It will now be considered by the commission at its June meeting The post Zaxby s and Raising Cane s push for drive-through permits in Dunwoody appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta