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Tualatin council directs staff to prohibit new drive-throughs in MUC zone under CFEC rules
Summary
After a split debate weighing walkability, seniors’ access and future flexibility, the Tualatin City Council gave staff direction to prohibit new drive-through facilities in the city’s Mixed Use Commercial zone as part of CFEC walkable-design code amendments.
The Tualatin City Council gave staff direction to draft code amendments that would prohibit new drive-through facilities in the city’s Mixed Use Commercial (MUC) zone as part of required Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rulemaking.
City planner Erin Egman explained that the state-directed model code recommends restricting auto-oriented uses in pedestrian-oriented districts and that the model goes further by suggesting the prohibition of drive-throughs in pedestrian zones. Egman noted the model requires jurisdictions to ensure pedestrian access to goods and services is equivalent to or better than access for people arriving by car.
Staff presented four options: (1) prohibit new drive-throughs in MUC; (2) allow drive-throughs but require CFEC-compliant design standards including walk-up service areas and queuing/stacking controls; (3) allow drive-throughs under a conditional use permit; or (4) a hybrid approach combining the above. Several councilors raised concerns about accessibility for seniors and families who rely on drive-throughs; others argued the MUC is a limited, transit-rich area better used for housing and walkable retail.
Councilor Brooks, the mayor and others voiced support for prohibition to preserve land for mixed-use development and reduce auto-oriented uses; other councilors favored option 2 or a conditional-use approach to preserve flexibility. After discussion, staff summarized council direction as moving forward with option 1; staff said they will incorporate that guidance when drafting the ordinance for the CFEC walkable design standards.
Egman outlined practical design constraints that would apply if drive-throughs were allowed under option 2: building frontage to the street, no drive-through lane between building and sidewalk, minimum stacking/queuing lengths, and a required walk-up service area connected to pedestrian amenities. The council did not take a formal roll-call vote; staff said they will seek planning commission recommendation and return an ordinance consistent with council direction before the December 2025 CFEC adoption deadline.
