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Middleton committee backs Culver's drive‑through plan despite traffic concerns
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Summary
The Middleton Public Works Committee recommended approval of a traffic‑impact analysis for a proposed Culver's drive‑through, endorsing option 1 (a right‑in/right‑out eastern access and site circulation changes) while acknowledging tradeoffs between safety and convenience; the motion passed 4‑1.
The Middleton Public Works Committee on Feb. 23 recommended approval of the traffic‑impact analysis (TIA) for a proposed Culver's with a drive‑through, endorsing the consultant's preferred access changes and asking for refined engineering before final design. The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and Common Council for the conditional use and final approvals.
SRF consultant Noah Leonard told the committee the preferred option would “allow drive‑through vehicles to queue within the site rather than on Lisa Lane” by adding an eastern ingress and a right‑in/right‑out access point, with updated pavement markings and signage. He added the modeled alternatives do not degrade the existing level of service at the Century/Laurel intersection and that restricting certain turning movements at Lisa Lane/Parmenter would reduce left‑turn conflicts.
Multiple committee members pressed for tradeoffs to be clear. Charles asked, “Have we considered that maybe this site just is not suitable for a drive‑through restaurant?” and urged the committee to consider whether the question should be elevated to the Plan Commission or Common Council for policy guidance. Daphne, speaking for the Plan Commission, noted Culver’s will need a conditional use permit and asked Public Works to send the commission the staff memo and any recommendation on whether the design would impede pedestrian or vehicular movement.
The committee discussed three alternatives: (1) allowing left turns with geometric adjustments, (2) continuing the median to prevent specific left‑turn movements, and (3) a smaller 'pork‑chop' island limiting movements while relying on signage and a physical barrier. Chair summarized the tradeoff: “Safety at a cost of convenience.” Noah and staff acknowledged that some drivers may still ignore restrictions and that final engineering will be needed to confirm lane geometry and pedestrian refuge space.
The committee voted to recommend approval of the TIA with option 1 (the staff/consultant‑recommended alternative) and asked for an additional refined design review before final engineering. The motion carried 4‑1 (four in favor, one opposed). Next steps include Plan Commission review of the conditional use permit and the Common Council's consideration of the committee recommendation.
Provenance: Committee discussion and motion appear in the meeting record beginning with the agenda item on approval of the Culver's TIA and concluding with the recorded motion and vote (committee presentation, questions, motion, and vote).
