Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro, Councilmembers Oddo & Ignizio petition City Planning for changes to drive-thru zoning regulations
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – In an effort to address concerns about the proliferation of drive-thrus on our Island and the traffic safety and congestion issues that have developed, Borough President Molinaro, along with Councilmembers James S. Oddo and Vincent Ignizio today sent a letter to Department of City Planning Chair Amanda Burden asking for a meeting in order to identify problems and concerns caused by drive-thrus which are not specifically permitted by the zoning text.
“The existing rules date back to 1961, when only drive-up banks and fast food joints like Wetsons and White Castle utilized drive-thrus,” Molinaro said. “Now, coffee shops, drugstores, and restaurants across the Borough have drive-thrus, many of which are poorly designed, causing traffic to back up onto roads and sidewalks. We must address this problem now, before someone gets run over on the sidewalk by a driver exiting a drive-thru that probably isn’t permitted to be there in the first place,” Molinaro said.
“The 1961 text is very specific as to where drive-thrus would be permitted. Later, other distinctions were made which required Board of Standards and Appeals oversight for drive-thrus located in certain C-1 commercial overlays. These rules require a special permit process to monitor the effect a drive-thru might have on a community over time. This rule makes sense, and should be applied to all zoning areas,” Molinaro said.
“We are asking that City Planning take a fresh look at the existing text and consider modifications that better reflect the evolved retail environment of today. I would request that any drive-thru application that does not comply with the zoning text be denied,” Molinaro said.
Councilman Oddo said, “The convenience for a relative few cannot take precedence over a better quality of life for all. The current rules governing drive-thrus are turning fifty years old next year. Those writing the rules did not anticipate the unique transportation and safety problems poorly designed drive-thrus create in 21st century Staten Island. At a moment in history when so many of us are always on the go, it is logical to assume that more drive-thrus will be constructed going forward. It is simply smart planning to start this process.”
Council Member Ignizio said: "It is high time that we take a hard look at the process of drive-thrus and the negative impact that they have on our local roads and traffic flow. One business'success should not be at the expense of the neighborhood's quality of life. The regulations are antiquated and need re-addressing."
May 13, 2010