Planning commission recommends code correction to restore drive‑throughs in Uptown Mixed Use zone

The Milton Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council correct an apparent drafting error in Milton Municipal Code to allow drive‑throughs as an accessory use in the Uptown Mixed Use (UMX) zone. The commission recorded the action as agenda item PLN2025-003.

Staff member Steph told the commission the change was a corrective edit: “when I went from the draft version to sort of the final ordinance version, the, allowing drive thrus as an accessory use in the uptown mixed use inadvertently was marked no instead of yes,” she said, adding the amendment would “basically correct that inadvertent deletion.”

The correction moves next to the city council for consideration. Vice Chair Whelan said the city still needs formal design standards for drive‑throughs and that staff will include standards such as orientation, landscaping and sound mitigation when the city prepares design guidelines later in the year. “There’s still yet to be design standards created for drive thrus,” Whelan said. Commissioner Boyle said she supported following up with more comprehensive design guidance on signage, orientation and other details.

The commission’s recommendation restores the accessory‑use allowance but does not itself adopt design or operational standards; staff confirmed those standards will return to the commission as part of a later design‑guidelines package.

Votes at the meeting on this item were unanimous in favor of recommending the code correction to the city council. The motion was made by Vice Chair Whelan and seconded by Commissioner Zarrow.

The commission opened and closed the public hearing on PLN2025-003 with no public commenters present and then moved to a vote.

Staff signaled the amendment would be routed to city council for final action; timing and council agenda placement were not specified at the meeting.