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Council advances 4420 Kent Road drive‑through site plan to tonight’s council agenda amid bypass‑lane concerns
Summary
The planning committee reviewed a site plan at 4420 Kent Road for a re‑purposed building with a drive‑through canopy and variances for a reduced side setback and a 9‑foot bypass lane (code requires 10'). The planning commission approved with a 9‑foot bypass condition; council moved the item to the full council agenda (4‑yes motion).
The Stowe Planning Committee on Dec. 4 reviewed an application for 4420 Kent Road (former KFC / later Sleep Outfitters) to convert the vacant building to a drivethrough commercial use and to obtain two variances: a reduced side setback to accommodate a canopy and a reduced bypass lane width of 9 feet instead of the code‑required 10 feet.
Planning staff outlined the project: a roughly 3,800‑square‑foot building with about 25 parking spaces, a canopy extension over the drive‑through (13 feet, 3 inches), and removal of rear parking to add landscaping approved by the city arborist. The site sits in a C4 commercial zone. The applicant requested a variance to the 20‑foot side‑setback requirement for the canopy and a variance to allow a 9‑foot bypass lane where the code requires 10 feet.
Councilmembers questioned how the 9‑foot bypass would be enforced and whether striping alone is sufficient to keep the bypass lane clear. Councilmember McIntyre said striping can be driven over and recommended permanent delineation where safety is intended. Planning staff noted the planning commission approved the application with a conditional variance for a 9‑foot bypass lane and required the lane to be shown on revised plans; the lane will be inspected during building permit review.
The planning committee voted to move the application to the full council agenda for final action. Committee minutes record the motion as "moved to tonight's council agenda" with the chair noting "That's 4 yeses" on the motion.
The council will consider the conditional zoning certificate, site plan and variances at its evening session; staff indicated the bypass lane dimensions will be reviewed again at permit stage where plan details and any striping or physical delineation will be required on the construction drawings.
If council approves the conditional use and variances, the applicant will be required to revise plans to show the bypass lane and meet any building permit requirements, including landscaping and arborist conditions.
