ORD-2009-144 Application of Dimensional Requirements to Establish Regulation Governing the Development of Drive-thru Facilities within the County–Option Two-Regulation

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T 20 *Require that menu boards utilized in connection with drive -thru facilities shall not be visible from external roadways, *Limit the overall number of drive -thru facilities that can be developed within a multi -use non- residential development to one (1) per ten (10) acres with a maximum cap of five (5) per project, *Require one hundred eighty (180) feet of drive isle to support drive -thru facilities, Planning Board Recommendation: The Planning Board reviewed this item at their April 1, 2009 meeting where the following motion was made: •Recommend the County initiate a comprehensive and countywide awareness education program about idling and the contaminants it puts in our air, and *Recommend the BOCC disregard staffs two (2) options and take no action on adopting regulations banning development of drive -thru facilities within the County's planning jurisdiction (Option 1) or adopting comprehensive development standards for drive -thru facilities (Option 2). Administration Recommendation: *Receive the Planning Board recommendation, *If necessary, deliberate further on the proposed amendment, *Close the public hearing, and *Adopt Option Two (2) — specifically adopt the proposed regulations detailed within Attachment One (1) of the packet. Commissioner Pelissier asked if there are possibilities of a standalone drive -thru facility and Craig Benedict said yes. The existing regulations allow this. Commissioner Pelissier said that the Planning Board minutes seemed to be focused on emissions. She said that a lot of it is based on aesthetics of a drive -thru. She said that part of the goal is to encourage walkability and she does not understand why they would want up to five drive -thrus in a mixed -use area given the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Jacobs suggested tabling this item. He said that at the public hearing, he - asked for information and the Planning Board got the information, but the Board of County Commissioners did not. He wants to see what other governmental entities have done. He said that one Planning Board member thought that the OUT Board had taken up this issue and he would like this information. He said that if the County is serious about an educational effort on emissions, then the school boards should be involved since families sit and wait for children to get out of schools or to drop them off. He would also like some data on whether it is better to turn off cars and then start them up again, orjust keep them on. He would also like to know who is going to do the public awareness campaign and with what funds. Commissioner Yuhasz said that he supports Commissioner Jacobs' recommendation to table this item. He is opposed to an outright ban of drive - thrus. Commissioner Nelson said that he does not support Commissioner Jacobs' recommendation. He said that the Board often tables items and drags them out. He said that Carrboro and Hillsborough have already prohibited drive -thru windows. He said that the two issues are walkability and the need to deal with global warming. There was no public comment.