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W <br />We have not collected data on the economic impacts to the Town of prohibiting <br />fast food drive - through restaurants or fast food restaurants in general (the <br />Concord Zoning Bylaw is available on the Town's website at <br />www.concordma.aov, the fast food prohibition is found under Section 4.7.1 and <br />restaurant is defined under Section 4.5.4). The zoning bylaw was initially adopted <br />In 1981 in response to traffic impacts, air pollution and littering issues. We have <br />not had a legal challenge to the bylaw, nor have we had a problem attracting <br />restaurants to the area although we don't have a national chain such as <br />McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's in Town. <br />Concord doesn't prohibit drive- through facilities for banks or dry cleaners (the <br />one dry cleaner that had a drive- through window ended up relocating to a site <br />without that feature). We have not had a request for a drive -up window by a drug <br />store (there is a Rite -Aid and a CVS in the town, along with a privately owned <br />drug store), which I think is more due to the fact that these stores were <br />developed before the drive - through feature became widely expected, the high <br />cost of real estate and the limited parking /access to the existing buildings. <br />There are three village centers in Concord - the most historic, Concord Center, <br />is also a local Historic District and I doubt that a drive - through window would be <br />approved today without extensive review and discussion. There is only one bank <br />with a drive - through window in the historic district that I am aware of. <br />Concord is a relatively affluent town that has had a vibrant business community <br />supported by the residents. I don't think the prohibition on fast food restaurants or <br />fast food drive - through restaurants has negatively impacted the community; I <br />think that if they were allowed there would be a negative impact on the <br />community. <br />Marcia Rasmussen <br />Marcia RasmussenDirector of Planning & Land Management <br />Town of Concord <br />141 Keyes Road <br />phone: (978) 318 -3290 <br />From: Shannon Berry [mailto:sberry@co.orange.nc.us] <br />Sent: Monday, July 27, 200910:52 AM <br />To: Marcia Rasmussen <br />Subject: Concord drive - throughs <br />Good morning Ms. Rasmussen. <br />I am a planner with Orange County, North Carolina, located in the Research Triangle of <br />North Carolina. We are looking at possibly modifying our Zoning Ordinance to limit or <br />more strongly regulate drive - throughs in the county and I am trying to gather as much <br />information as possible regarding the Impacts other communities have experienced due <br />to regulations or prohibitions. <br />I understand Concord prohibits fast food drive - throughs and all fast food restaurants <br />within the city. Does the city also prohibit drive - throughs for banks, dry cleaners, etc? <br />What, if any, economic impacts has the city experienced following the drive - through <br />