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Council debates possible moratorium on new drive‑throughs; directs staff to return with analysis tied to zoning update
Summary
Council members debated whether to pause new drive‑through approvals while the zoning code update is underway. Members split: some favored an immediate moratorium to protect walkable districts; others opposed an emergency ban and asked for a targeted staff analysis. Council directed planning staff to report back with options and best practices.
Palm Springs council members debated whether to impose a moratorium on new drive‑through uses at the Jan. 9 meeting but stopped short of adopting an immediate ban. Instead, council directed planning staff to compile a targeted report with best‑practice options and locational guidance before the zoning code update is finalized.
Background and concerns: Councilmember Bernstein proposed a pause on accepting new drive‑through applications, citing the city’s recent general plan adoption emphasizing walkable commercial districts, the Climate Action Plan and concerns about increasing car‑centered development in places such as Smoke Tree, Rimrock and South Palm Canyon. Several public speakers urged a moratorium, saying drive‑throughs encourage idling vehicles, reduce walkability and occupy land better used for public space.
Opposing viewpoints: Other councilmembers cautioned that an immediate moratorium could be viewed as business‑unfriendly and could block redevelopment of vacant, blighted sites. Councilmember Reddy and others argued some drive‑throughs (for example banks or grocery pickup) may be appropriate in certain locations and that the planning commission already reviews drive‑throughs via conditional use permitting.
Council direction and next steps: Rather than adopt an emergency ordinance, council asked planning staff to return in roughly three to four months with a report summarizing how peer cities regulate drive‑throughs, mapping existing drive‑through locations and identifying potential locational restrictions and design standards (screening, lane counts, orientation, parking and traffic analysis thresholds). Planning Director Chris Hadwin and the zoning code team said they are already tracking the issue as part of the broader zoning rewrite and can present options for council direction before the code finalization.
What to expect: Staff said the report will include examples of approaches other cities use (e.g., prohibiting drive‑throughs in downtown cores, limiting lane configurations, requiring screening, differentiating retail vs. banking vs. grocery drive‑throughs) and proposed next steps to incorporate council guidance into the zoning code update.
