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Council defers decision on Starbucks site plan after residents raise traffic and school‑hour concerns

City of Altoona City Council · April 1, 2026

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Summary

Altoona council deferred a site‑plan decision for a proposed Starbucks at 501 8th St SW after residents raised concerns about drive‑through stacking, construction during school hours and traffic impacts; the motion to defer passed unanimously among attending members and the council scheduled reconsideration for Nov. 4, 2024.

Community Development Director John Shaw introduced a site plan from Starbucks Corporation for the 501 8th St SW lot previously occupied by Family Video and asked the council to consider the application. Developer Michael Kohne praised city staff for responsiveness and asked the council for support, saying, "the staff has been great to work with and very responsive. Staff has come back with comments and have taken a lot of the citizens’ comments into account. We have worked on spacing and addressing traffic flows. We have addressed every comment the city has had for us. I would appreciate your yes vote."

During public comment and council questioning, residents pressed the council about vehicle stacking, school‑hour conflicts and construction timing. Tom Johannsen asked how many cars could be stacked in the drive‑through before it became a problem; Mayor Dean O'Connor replied "21 vehicles." Maggie Crabb, identifying herself as a nearby resident, said she appreciated staff work but asked, "are you willing to allow a business that has a high volume and car traffic with peak times that are during the hours when children and families are coming and going to school? ... Would Starbucks be there without a drive thru and would Starbucks look at other locations?" Amanda Eggers asked who would handle a traffic problem if one developed; Mayor O'Connor said the city would address streets or traffic issues. Michelle Hudson asked whether demolition and site grading would occur during the school season; the mayor said the site would be fenced off.

After the public comments and council questions, Councilmember Duer moved to defer the site plan decision to the Nov. 4, 2024 council meeting; the motion carried on a roll‑call vote recorded as 4‑0 with Councilmember Boka absent. The deferral gives staff and the applicant additional time to address traffic, stacking and construction‑timing concerns raised by residents.

The council will revisit the Starbucks site plan on Nov. 4, 2024, or sooner if the applicant submits revised materials and the city schedules an earlier consideration.