On June 4, 2025 the City of Lorain Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a Dunkin' Donuts drive‑through at 5494 Levitt Road, subject to conditions meant to reduce site congestion and improve circulation.

The commission’s approval included requirements such as right‑turn‑only control at the Levitt Road exit, directional signage and pavement markings, and consideration of an island to deter vehicles from re‑entering the site from Levitt. Staff also flagged that the site is a legal nonconforming lot in some respects and that specific variances may still be required for stacking and parking changes.

Commissioners raised traffic and circulation concerns through the hearing. One commissioner said the Levitt Road exit had been closed previously because of backups on Levitt and expressed concern that reopening it as an exit could allow customers to bypass Cooper Foster Road traffic. Planning staff and the applicant’s representative described the proposed design as a divided circulation pattern with walk‑in customers exiting via the Levitt exit and drive‑through customers exiting onto Cooper Foster Road.

Staff noted the corporate owner seeks a double‑lane ordering configuration to increase stacking capacity; the applicant requested a variance for stacking because code requires eight stacking spaces per menu board and the plan provides four. “They can stack four times as many cars as they’re currently out. So it gets cars off the road onto the site,” an applicant representative said, describing the owner’s intent to reduce Cooper Foster backups.

The commission discussed specific site details: two parking spaces labeled 7 and 8 were identified as candidates to remove to improve circulation, but commissioners suggested instead designating them as employee‑only spaces to avoid triggering a variance that would delay approval. Staff also pointed out that designated fire lanes were not shown on the site plan and that island dimensions should accommodate the garbage truck and delivery vehicles.

After public comment closed, the commission moved to approve the conditional use permit with the conditions discussed in the staff packet and at the hearing. The motion passed with aye votes and no recorded opposition. Any required variances (stacking length, removal or re‑designation of parking spaces) will need to be pursued separately because some changes would alter the site’s compliance with parking and stacking requirements.

The decision allows the applicant to advance to final development and variance processes as needed; permit issuance and construction remain subject to satisfying building, fire and engineering requirements.