Planning Commission approves SWIG drive‑through, raises questions about Cairns district precedent

The Sandy City Planning Commission approved a conditional‑use permit for a drive‑through and found the preliminary site plan complete for a proposed SWIG restaurant on State Street in the Cairns district, granting several exceptions to the Cairns design standards and attaching conditions requiring enhanced pedestrian amenities and a maintenance agreement.

Jamin Koontz, of Babcock Design, presented the proposal and said the site is constrained by lot size and the existing roadway pattern. “We would like to have a SWIG; it is heavily reliant on drive‑through lanes,” Koontz said, describing a two‑lane drive‑through configuration and a compact single‑story building oriented toward the street. He told the commission the design team added a walk‑up window, planter areas, bike racks and festoon lighting to improve the pedestrian environment.

Planning Director Mike Wilcox and City…