Drive-thru restaurant plan sparks traffic safety concerns

In a recent government meeting, the commission approved a land use action that will facilitate the transformation of a barbecue restaurant into Berto's Mexican Restaurant, which will feature a drive-thru. The decision came after the applicant confirmed that they had secured agreements from seven out of eight property owners in the block, meeting the necessary 75% requirement for approval.

The commission discussed the implications of the new drive-thru, particularly concerning traffic flow on Acoma Boulevard. Concerns were raised about potential congestion, especially given the short distance from the drive-thru window to the main street. However, public works officials had previously reviewed the plans and expressed confidence that the proposed design, including a concrete median and a right-in, right-out driveway, would alleviate existing traffic issues.

The applicant assured the commission that their experience with similar establishments in the area indicated that traffic would not spill onto Acoma Boulevard, even during peak hours. A second lane was suggested as a precautionary measure to accommodate any overflow, but the analysis indicated that such a scenario was unlikely.

After thorough discussion, the commission voted six to one in favor of the resolution to amend the parking and common master plan for the property, allowing the development to proceed under the outlined conditions. The meeting also included a public comment segment, where a resident expressed concerns about ongoing development in the foothills, highlighting community sensitivity to changes in local land use.