Culver City officials are weighing a permanent ban on new drive-thru businesses, a move that could block plans for a new In-N-Out Burger in the trendy Los Angeles suburb.
The proposed restaurant would be the first new drive-thru built in the city since 1997. However, the project has drawn sharp pushback from local residents who cite concerns over traffic, child safety and air pollution, NBC Los Angeles reported.
According to a copy of the development blueprint, the proposed In-N-Out would feature 61 parking spaces and a 26-car drive-thru designed with two lanes that merge into one around an outdoor seating area.
The Culver City Council was scheduled to meet Monday evening to debate extending a temporary ban on new drive-thru permits for an additional 10 months and 15 days. The city originally enacted a 45-day temporary moratorium last month to allow staff and the Planning Commission to study a permanent prohibition. That initial ban is set to expire at the end of July.
Opponents of the project have pointed to its proximity to El Rincon Elementary School and Blanco Park, raising concerns about the safety of local children.
“Increased turning movements, queuing, and driveway crossings raise collision risk for kids walking or biking to school and the park,” resident Morgan Schwartz wrote in a public comment to the City Council. “Patrons are sometimes distracted while arriving or leaving the restaurant, which further adds to the risks inherent in this location.”
Other community members expressed concern that the fast-food site would overwhelm local streets. Mel Siverts, president of the Beverlywood West Homeowners Association, wrote a letter to the Culver City Planning and Development Department detailing how the development could alter the area.
“Our neighborhood already experiences heavy congestion during peak hours, and adding a high-traffic fast-food establishment — especially one known for long drive-thru lines that often spill out onto public streets — would worsen the situation considerably,” Siverts wrote.
