The Town of Stratford Zoning Commission convened on March 27, 2024, to discuss a significant application regarding the expansion of a Starbucks drive-through facility at Notch Landing. The meeting focused on the proposed changes to the site plan, which aims to accommodate evolving customer preferences for drive-through service, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The discussion began with a presentation highlighting the need for increased drive-through capacity. The previous site plan allowed for one drive-through lane with a queuing capacity of six cars. The new proposal, however, includes two drive-through lanes capable of accommodating 14 to 16 cars. This change reflects a substantial shift in customer behavior, with approximately 75% of transactions now occurring through the drive-through, up from 25% pre-pandemic.

The applicant emphasized that the pandemic has permanently altered how customers access Starbucks products, leading to a demand for longer queuing lanes to prevent backups into the parking lot. The new design aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, which has been a concern for patrons of the shopping center.

Jay, a member of the commission, noted that the proposed development aligns with existing drive-through establishments in the area and requested a traffic study to assess the impact of the new drive-through service on local traffic conditions. The traffic engineer, Mark Petoro, provided insights indicating that the proposed parking and drive-through layout would accommodate peak demand without conflicting with adjacent land uses.

Despite the positive aspects of the proposal, some commission members expressed concerns about existing traffic issues in the area, describing it as a "traffic nightmare." They highlighted the challenges of navigating the interconnected shopping centers and the need for better access solutions.

Rob Aiello, representing the applicant's engineering team, clarified the existing access points to the shopping center and outlined how the new layout would facilitate smoother traffic flow. The design includes a two-way street that connects to East Main Street, allowing for efficient entry and exit for customers.

The meeting concluded with a call for approval of the application, emphasizing its potential benefits for Stratford's economic development. The commission will review the traffic study before making a final decision on the proposal.