California City is considering a ban on drive-throughs after concerns were raised by some residents about the potential negative impact of a proposed In-N-Out on air quality, traffic congestion, and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Culver City City Council passed a 45-day moratorium last month to halt permits for new drive-throughs while staff worked on drafting a ban. This decision came after the city’s mobility subcommittee recommended the ban in May.
If approved by the city council, the ban would only affect new businesses.
In-N-Out would be the first new drive-thru in Culver City since 1997, a city staff report stated. The proposed fast-food establishment would have 61 parking spaces and a drive-thru lane capable of accommodating 26 vehicles.
The burger chain had not yet submitted a formal permit application at the time the moratorium was passed, as indicated by a city spokesperson to LAist.
Critics of In-N-Out’s plan have expressed concerns about its potential negative impact on the city’s safety and walkability.
Another resident, Paul Hewitt, distributed flyers to neighbors describing the project as a „terrible idea.”
Culver City Councilmember Bubba Fish emphasized the need for creating streets that are more walkable, bikeable, and safe for all individuals, stating that drive-throughs are contradictory to this goal.
Opponents of the ban argue that drive-throughs provide an important convenience for consumers, including those with disabilities and families with children.
Around 70% of fast-food sales are attributed to drive-thru orders, according to the American Planning Association.
This is not the first instance of a drive-thru ban being proposed in California. Culver City already prohibits drive-throughs in its downtown area, while Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo have had citywide bans for several decades. Carlsbad recently relaxed a citywide ban from the late 1990s to allow for consideration of new drive-throughs case by case.
When San Diego contemplated a partial drive-thru ban in 2021, the California Restaurant Association argued in a letter that such a ban would restrict access to products and services for certain groups, including individuals with disabilities.
