Drive-through dilemma

A proposed ban on new drive-through services in St. Paul is parked for almost a year. Action on a set of major restrictions was tabled until Sept. 23, 2025. That is meant to give city leaders more time to look at St. Paul’s commercial areas as a whole.
The St. Paul City Council voted 6-1 Nov. 13 to postpone action on the planning commission’s study of drive-through services pending completion of a more comprehensive commercial corridors zoning study.
Following the public hearing, Ward 2 Council Member Rebecca Noecker tabled the planning commission recommendations with support from Anika Bowie, Hwa Cheniqua Johnson, Saura Jost, HwaJeong Kim and Nelsie Yang. Council President Mitra Jalali cast the lone dissenting vote.
Jalali said she wanted to act on the planning commission study and recommendations in a timely manner, questioning if information would become outdated. She also pointed out that two of the most controversial drive-thrus in recent memory, Taco Bell at 565 N. Snelling Ave. and Starbucks at Marshall and Snelling avenues, are in or adjacent to her Fourth Ward.
However, Noecker said that while she agrees with the proposed restrictions’ goals of pedestrian safety and reducing motor vehicle emissions, the pending commercial corridors study and conditions business face today must be considered. “This is a really hard time, especially for our small businesses,” she said, adding that the city should make it easier for businesses to invest in their properties, “rather than doing the reverse.”
While the recommendations make sense, it’s the “wrong time” to act on them, said Noecker. The proposed regulations should be looked in a broader context instead.
A majority of council members agreed, saying they heard from business owners and other constituents who oppose the proposed restrictions.
“How pertinent is this to our city right now? I’m not sure,” said Johnson. Her Seventh Ward borders suburbs and their business districts. Customers could all too easily drive to Woodbury, Oakdale or Maplewood to patronize their drive-through restaurants.
Yang has spoken with teenage restaurant workers who’ve dealt with people overdosing on drugs in the restrooms. Some restaurants have gone to drive-through and walk-up services only for safety reasons.
Yang, who has two small children, and Bowie also spoke for parents who find it easier to use drive-through services than to get youngsters out of their car seats and into buildings.
The St. Paul Planning Commission recently recommended that new fast-food and coffee shop drive-thrus be banned, and that new banking and pharmacy drive-thrus be allowed in specific areas of the city. Existing drive-thrus of all types could remain but if a business closed for a time, it could be difficult if not impossible to restore the drive-through service.
More than half a dozen people appeared before the council, and several letters were also received. A letter was read from Courtney Henry, whose family has owned McDonald’s restaurants in St. Paul since the 1980s. The Henrys now own seven McDonald’s restaurants, including all three along University Avenue. Their longtime Midway Center restaurant closes this month to make way for United Village development.
Henry said that the planning commission proposal needs to be amended, to allow existing drive-through services to be renovated for technology, environmental and safety reasons.
Hospitality Minnesota, the Minnesota Retailers Association, banks and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce oppose the regulations. The council received a few emails from residents seeking a total drive-through ban. Supporters and foes made a number of recommendations which the planning commission and council could take up later.
Drive-thrus have long sparked controversy in the Midway area. In 1989, plans were announced to develop three fast-food restaurants along University at Midway Center. The plan met opposition and eventually only McDonald’s was developed. The other two sites housed a Perkins restaurant and a building with smaller storefronts.
Taco Bell clashed with neighborhood and city officials for years over plans to rebuild and revamp its driveway, before winning in court several years ago. As for Starbucks, it was nicknamed “Carbucks” and “Snarshall” due to traffic backups caused by the coffee shop drive-thru. The drive-through closed a few years ago.