Council defers major drive-through zoning changes after public hearing and requests maps

City of Tucker council voted to defer further action on a proposed zoning text amendment that would limit where drive-through restaurants and other drive-through facilities can locate.

Courtney, a city planning staffer, presented the second read of Ordinance O2025-06-12, summarizing a February moratorium on drive-throughs, a citywide inventory of existing drive-throughs, and a package of proposed changes. Key elements included restricting drive-through restaurants by right to a single zoning district (C2) while reducing the number of districts that could allow drive-throughs by special land use permit, increasing the setback between drive-through elements and residential uses from 60 feet to 150 feet, raising the minimum lot size for drive-through facilities from 10,000 square feet to 1 acre, prohibiting menu boards and service windows between the building and the public right-of-way, and adding a 1,500-foot separation requirement between drive-through restaurants.

Council members repeatedly asked for clarity on definitions (the staff clarified that “residentially zoned or property developed with residential uses” covers single-family detached, attached, townhomes and multifamily), the practical effect on specific parcels, and the extent to which existing drive-throughs would be grandfathered. Members requested a map showing where the proposed changes would permit or prohibit drive-throughs; staff said such a map was not ready for tonight’s meeting. Public commenters were split: Mark Slauson supported stronger separation and suggested 100 feet as a compromise; Anne Lerner urged caution, citing pedestrian access and the needs of visually impaired residents and small families.

Councilmember (Speaker 15) moved to approve the ordinance with a textual strike in subsection 3 (removing language that would permit only the exit lane to front the public right of way); that amendment failed. The Mayor Pro Tem then moved to defer the ordinance to the next meeting to allow staff to provide parcel-level maps and additional analysis; the deferral motion was seconded and carried. The moratorium that prompted the text amendment is set to expire Aug. 11; staff noted the charter’s 65-day timing requirement between first and second reads when discussing scheduling.

Next steps: planning staff will produce a clearer map of parcels and return the amendment for a later second read, addressing council concerns about distance separations, grandfathering and business impacts.