09-29-2017, 10:44 PM
(09-29-2017, 09:33 PM)tomh009 Wrote:(09-29-2017, 07:55 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: Some people think zoning should forbid drivethroughs in urban areas. I think zoning should require that drivethroughs (and other property uses) not have an undue impact on their surroundings. Blocking the only travel lane on an important street through town counts as an undue impact.
Zoning controls what can be built (now or in the future). But when the drive-through was built, there were four lanes of traffic, so it was highly unlikely to block traffic. And in general, zoning is not retroactive.
That is a good point. However, even with the four-lane road, Tim’s was never entitled to use part of the road as additional storage for its customers’ cars. It’s just more obvious now that the entire road is blocked rather than just 1 of 2 lanes.