The Lorain Zoning Board of Appeals voted June 4 to approve a variance related to a proposed double drive‑through at Dunkin’ located at 5494 Levitt Road, conditioning approval on a dedicated right‑turn‑only exit with a curb buildout and on subsequent Planning Commission approval.

Brigitte Tipton, an architect with Metis Design, told the board the project is a renovation of an existing, nonconforming Dunkin’ site that will remove a Baskin‑Robbins space and add a double drive‑through to meet a corporate requirement. “This is a renovation of an existing Dunkin’… we are working to improve a nonconforming site to what is also still kind of a nonconforming site, but, hopefully, with great improvements to particularly traffic flow, particularly along Levitt Road,” Tipton said.

Tipton said the proposed layout increases on‑site stacking from two or three cars to as many as eight, and reorganizes parking and circulation so the drive‑through lane does not block parking. Board members and public commentators repeatedly raised traffic concerns at the corner, citing past uses (Rally’s) and increased development at the intersection. Mary Springowski, Lorain city council at‑large, described the corner’s history of turnover and said current surrounding development has increased traffic pressure.

Board discussion focused on whether the site could ever meet the Zoning Code’s stacking requirement (interpreted as eight cars per ordering point, which Tipton said would equate to 16 cars for a double ordering arrangement) and on practical mitigation. Several board members and members of the public urged formalizing the current cone‑controlled restriction on the Levitt Road/exit point into a permanent right‑turn‑only exit with physical curb work. The applicant’s representative said the proposed design includes a dedicated exit and that angled dumpster placement and signage could accommodate service vehicles.

Board member (name not specified in the transcript) moved to approve the variance with the condition that the dedicated exit become a right‑turn‑only (south turn) and that a corresponding curb cut be installed to discourage entry from Levitt Road; the motion also conditioned approval on Planning Commission sign‑off. The motion was seconded and the board voted to approve; the motion carried with affirmative votes recorded as “Aye.”

The variance item (BA 11‑20‑25) will proceed to the Planning Commission for its review as required by the condition recorded by the board.