Santa Barbara ready to declare their Chick-Fil-A a public nuisance

[RedAngie]

Domesticated chicken has been around since about 6,000 BC and bread has been around since the Neolithic.

Can Mr, Know It All answer this?

How did the Neolithics get from wild wheat growing as a weed to Artisan Focaccia Bread? There are like 38 steps in between.

 

[RedAngie]

We passed a Starbucks this morning with cars trying to merge into the drive thru lane both both the main and side streets. At both entrances cars were out into the roads.

We should have stopped and watched for a while to see if any altercations broke out.

 

[bcla]

The city is not unhappy about their popularity. The city is unhappy about cars spilling out onto the thoroughfare and blocking traffic and representing a danger to cyclists and pedestrians.

That’s what I don’t get about these responses that it’s somehow popular or that once a permit is granted, there should be no means for local government to revise the terms. The foremost responsibility of a local government is for the safety of its residents and visitors. I’ve seen what can happen. People can get injured.

So I suppose the problem is the customers who are breaking the law. So I’d propose setting up cameras patched into police, paid for by the CFA franchisee. That alerts them to those blocking the roadway and putting other cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians at risk. Send traffic patrol cops and ticket them immediately. I mean, no warning. The signs are clearly posted, so there’s no excuse. It reminds me of the driver parked in a bus zone, a sheriff’s deputy (transit police) with the lights and a warning, and the driver still wouldn’t leave. He was asking for it. I also recall a bear jam in Yellowstone where an LE ranger was out and clearly telling everyone that they had to either be parked in a designated parking space or have all four tires off the pavement or else get a ticket. Yet many still parked blocking the road.

Lay down the hammer on the customers and I’m sure the CFA franchisee is going to act. They could start by taking photos of vehicles and blackballing anyone stopping on the street. Do that and you’re banned from the drive-thru for a year.

 

[bcla]

Another issue with backed up drive-thrus is that their customers are blocking driveways for other customers. Here's an article on a similar issue with another drive-thru. Also - many permits are for the building and construction but don't necessarily specify the occupant.

https://www.fresnobee.com/living/food-drink/bethany-clough/article252104998.html​

At the In-N-Out on Shaw Avenue near Highway 99, the drive-thru line often spills out onto the busy street. Last Friday at lunchtime, five or six cars were stopped in Shaw Avenue’s right-hand lane, waiting to order food.​

“This one is the worst,” said Chong Kim, who owns Liquor Junction just to the east of In-N-Out.​

​

Despite signs that say “Please do not block driveway” in front of the liquor store and the nearby tire shop, it’s still a problem, he said.​

​

“My business is damaged because my customers cannot come in,” he said. Two regular customers confirmed that they sometimes don’t bother stopping at the store when the restaurant line is in the way.​

​

Cars also have problems leaving Kim’s parking lot when the right-hand lane is stopped, but the other lanes are whizzing by at 35 to 40 miles per hour.​

There’s been at least one accident, he said, and he regularly hears brakes screeching with near misses.​

*******​

One challenge? City workers often don’t know which restaurant will move into a proposed drive-thru, said city traffic engineer Jill Gormley.​

​

“A lot of times we don’t necessarily know that it’s a Chick-fil-A or an In-N-Out Burger,” she said.​

​

A developer may want to lure a certain restaurant, but in the early stages of planning a new shopping center, they may not have landed one yet. The paperwork Gormley’s department sees may call for two drive-thrus and a handful of stores, without names.​

For many drive-thrus, — say, Burger King — requiring space for 10 cars may be more than enough, she said.​

​

Some places, like the Chick-fil-A on north Blackstone Avenue, were built a for a different tenant. The site was originally a Krispy Kreme with much shorter lines. Plus, her department focuses on how the business affects traffic on streets, not in private parking lots.​

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Can Mr, Know It All answer this?

How did the Neolithics get from wild wheat growing as a weed to Artisan Focaccia Bread? There are like 38 steps in between.

Have you been reading the forbidden site again?
Anyway to answer, ask the Etruscans, the ancient Greeks, and the Romans.

We passed a Starbucks this morning with cars trying to merge into the drive thru lane both both the main and side streets. At both entrances cars were out into the roads.

We should have stopped and watched for a while to see if any altercations broke out.

Well that's what happens when the onion in the front of the line orders 12 coffees all so specialized they require filling the entire cup surface with stickers.

 

[mrodgers]

Doctors should provide aerial traffic photos of these places to illustrate the clogged arteries the customers will have after loading up on this food on a habitual basis.

Now that's funny! And truthful, but funny.

 

[bcla]

Got curious about this and found that the city council unanimously approved a plan. They will remove servers, parking spaces and go to a 3-lane (2 for the drive thru) setup that will merge.

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/chick-fil-a_tastes_success_at_santa_barbara_abr_meeting

 

[kdonnel]

Got curious about this and found that the city council unanimously approved a plan. They will remove servers, parking spaces and go to a 3-lane (2 for the drive thru) setup that will merge.

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/chick-fil-a_tastes_success_at_santa_barbara_abr_meeting

Still won't be enough space.

 

[ronandannette]

Got curious about this and found that the city council unanimously approved a plan. They will remove servers, parking spaces and go to a 3-lane (2 for the drive thru) setup that will merge.

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/chick-fil-a_tastes_success_at_santa_barbara_abr_meeting

All I can say is that if they're funneling that much traffic through the drive-thru, they may as well go ahead and close the dining room. We've got many McDonalds and Tim Hortons here that have multi-lane drive-thrus and trying to go in and order results in an unacceptably long wait-time, as all-hands-on-deck focus on the drive-thru orders to get them complete within the "time-stamp window". Ours still have parking spaces though, because pretty much half-the-time you'll be told to pull up and wait for your order so the other vehicles can keep rolling through.

 

[bcla]

Sorry about the weird autocorrect. Should have read “remove several parking spaces”. Also it wasn’t the city council but a review board that approves building plans.

 

[MillauFr]

All I can say is that if they're funneling that much traffic through the drive-thru, they may as well go ahead and close the dining room.

How do those handle the customers arriving on bicycles or pedestrians? It takes much less real estate to handle those customers. I guess I don't understand the drive through culture. You don't see that much in Puget Sound. Real estate is far too expensive to construct drive throughs.

 

[bcla]

How do those handle the customers arriving on bicycles or pedestrians? It takes much less real estate to handle those customers. I guess I don't understand the drive through culture. You don't see that much in Puget Sound. Real estate is far too expensive to construct drive throughs.

A lot of places closed dining rooms. That's not all that difficult. I remember a few McDonald's that ended up installing ordering windows, although it was kind of awkward because most of those setups had the cash register away from the window. Or where people are allowed to walk in, but the seating area is closed.

I'm not a huge fan of drive thrus. I'll use them if that's all that's available, and when my kid was sleeping in the car. As for why they devote that kind of real estate, drive thru customers are often the majority of sales at fast food places.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Can Mr, Know It All answer this?

How did the Neolithics get from wild wheat growing as a weed to Artisan Focaccia Bread? There are like 38 steps in between.

Because it didn't snow where it was invented and they needed to throw something at Santa Claus.

 

[tcufrog]

Chic-Fil-A has the same habit Trader Joes has. They both have inadequate parking for their locations, creating problems for their neighboring tenants.

 

[tvguy]

Chic-Fil-A has the same habit Trader Joes has. They both have inadequate parking for their locations, creating problems for their neighboring tenants.

Well in some places that isn't their fault. There is a big push by governments to prohibit cities from imposing minimum parking spots. California just enacted a law that bans local governments from requiring ANY parking spots for residential developments within a half mile of a public transit stop. A private developer 2 years ago opened student apartments near the local CSU campus with just one parking spot per 3 bedroom apartment. Many of those apartments have 6 residents, all with cars. Neighbors in the residential area around the complex have gone to court. The developer has purchased land and built a small parking lot but it is almost a mile away. Several residents have been assaulted between that parking lot and the apartments. I am of the mind set that in the case of residential development, one off street parking spot must be build per bedroom.

 

[disneychrista]

Chic-Fil-A has the same habit Trader Joes has. They both have inadequate parking for their locations, creating problems for their neighboring tenants.

It's all psychology in my opinion. You see a FULL parking lot and something in your brain decided you HAVE TO go and check it out. Then you discover that they aren't worth all the hype.

 

[MillauFr]

Well in some places that isn't their fault. There is a big push by governments to prohibit cities from imposing minimum parking spots. California just enacted a law that bans local governments from requiring ANY parking spots for residential developments within a half mile of a public transit stop. A private developer 2 years ago opened student apartments near the local CSU campus with just one parking spot per 3 bedroom apartment. Many of those apartments have 6 residents, all with cars. Neighbors in the residential area around the complex have gone to court. The developer has purchased land and built a small parking lot but it is almost a mile away. Several residents have been assaulted between that parking lot and the apartments. I am of the mind set that in the case of residential development, one off street parking spot must be build per bedroom.

Parking should never be mandated in any development. The developer should have the freedom to determine how much parking to provide. Not any government agency.

 

[TLSnell1981]

All I can say is that if they're funneling that much traffic through the drive-thru, they may as well go ahead and close the dining room. We've got many McDonalds and Tim Hortons here that have multi-lane drive-thrus and trying to go in and order results in an unacceptably long wait-time, as all-hands-on-deck focus on the drive-thru orders to get them complete within the "time-stamp window". Ours still have parking spaces though, because pretty much half-the-time you'll be told to pull up and wait for your order so the other vehicles can keep rolling through.

The dining rooms are full too. And theif service is impeccable...quick and correct. Their market salad with balsamic, kale crunch, fruit and the yoghurt parfait. Although not all in one sitting!

 

[tvguy]

Parking should never be mandated in any development. The developer should have the freedom to determine how much parking to provide. Not any government agency.

Well, that is how it is now and given government was requiring fewer spots that was needed, it will be a mess.

 

[bcla]

Chic-Fil-A has the same habit Trader Joes has. They both have inadequate parking for their locations, creating problems for their neighboring tenants.

Depends on the location. I’ve got maybe 4 around that I shop at depending on where I’m going. 3 are in older malls or strip malls with adequate parking for those willing to walk. The other is in Berkeley and was built into an otherwise residential building. That one has a garage, but many customers are UC Berkeley students who walk there.

I have seen some locations where it’s hard finding parking. However, it’s usually a result of customers for multiple businesses. And there isn’t really the problem of cars backing up at drive thrus.

This situation at CFA in Santa Barbara is really unique in that there’s no option to move (new drive thrus are banned) unless they go outside the city. They’re stuck with the existing footprint. I suppose they could try to buy out a neighboring property, but I’m thinking that’s unlikely.

As far as I can tell, they’ve brought in traffic monitors in the meantime. Not sure what they can do other than block the entrance with cones when there’s no room. Then it’s up to police to handle those who refuse to move when they’re blocking the traffic lane.