One year after Buellton put the brakes on bringing an In-N-Out to town, the developer behind a separate drive-through project is asking the city to consider a crucial policy change.
Unlike the rejected In-N-Out development, which would have neighbored an existing McDonald’s drive-through, the Central Holding Group’s project site for its proposed drive-through coffee shop is in an area of Buellton where drive-throughs are outright banned.
At the Buellton Planning Commission’s Jan. 16 meeting, it discussed aspects of the coffee shop pitch, one of a handful of proposed developments listed in the Highway 246 Commercial Center project, which encompasses seven parcels south of Highway 246, in between Avenue of Flags and Highway 101.Â
The Central Holding Group’s project includes the coffee shop, a separate market and deli venue, and a 24-unit motel.
While drive-throughs are not uncommon in Buellton, they’re prohibited on Avenue of Flags, as codified in the Avenue of Flags Specific Plan. Currently under review by Buellton’s planning department, the Highway 246 Commercial Center project application includes a request for a specific plan amendment to allow drive-through sales on Highway 246 frontages within the specific plan’s sphere of influence.
“The Highway 246 frontage is unique compared to the Avenue of Flags frontage in that it experiences a greater volume of commuter traffic from neighboring valley communities and travelers,” Project Planner Lonnie Roy, of ON Design Architects, stated in the application. “For business along the frontage to be economically competitive with the community, specifically the commercial hub east of [Highway 101], vehicle-oriented amenities such as drive-through sales are needed.”
During public comment at the Buellton Planning Commission’s Jan. 16 meeting, Buellton resident and WE Watch (formerly Women’s Environmental Watch) board member Theresa Reilly described the project site attached to the drive-through coffee shop as “already a hideously crowded block of traffic.”
“In addition to the influx of cars for residents, business owners, and customers through all of these new buildings, the drive-through proposed for the commercial center promises to be a traffic nightmare,” Reilly said.Â
Reilly also criticized the coffee shop’s aesthetic approach, specifically the Central Holding Group’s plan to erect a 28-foot-tall coffee pot-shaped tunnel that cars will go through before reaching the pickup window.
“The idea of a 30-foot-tall coffee pot, I understand some people think that’s cute, but for the most part, people do not appreciate the design element of that,” Reilly said. “It seems rather out of place.”
Shortly after Reilly’s comments, Planning Commissioner Shannon Reese asked staff about the status of the Highway 246 Commercial Center’s plan review.
“We are working through the scope of the traffic study,” said Planning Director Andrea Keefer, who added that staff predicts to agendize the project for its first formal public hearing before the Planning Commission within the next few months.Â
This article appears in Jan 23 – Feb 2, 2025.