By Madeline Ackley Salazar | Your Valley
Goodyear City Council voted unanimously in June to loosen restrictions imposed on drive-through restaurants within the city.
The council voted to “streamline” the permitting process developers must take with the city to establish a drive-thru restaurant. Now, drive-thrus can open without a permit and associated fees if they are located 500 feet or more from residencies.
Previously, the city required that all drive-thru restaurants come before the planning and zoning commission and city council for final approval–a process that could take up to six months.
However, future drive-thrus built in Goodyear must abide by minimum ‘stacking’ standards.
Drive-thrus must be large enough to accommodate at least six vehicles from the entry to the first stop–usually the menu board. The drive-thru will also need to be able to accommodate at least four additional vehicles between the first stop and the pick-up window.
City staff recommended the amendment to city council in April, but the changes were delayed following concerns from the “development community,” city planning manager Steve Careccia said at a June 27 council meeting.
