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Planning commission clears Starbucks and Circle K project after split votes on drive‑through
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Summary
The commission approved entitlements for a Starbucks and Circle K at 1st and Joiner Parkway, adopting CEQA infill exemptions and related resolutions. The commission split the package to vote separately on the Starbucks drive‑through; the drive‑through CUP passed 5–1 after debate over stacking and traffic.
The Lincoln Planning Commission voted on April 15 to approve a multi‑resolution package authorizing a combined Starbucks and Circle K commercial development at the corner of 1st and Joiner Parkway, including a tentative parcel map, specific development plan, landscaping easement vacation, and conditional use permits for alcohol sales and for a Starbucks drive‑through.
Thomas Cruikshank, associate planner, described the project as a subdivision of approximately two acres into a northern Parcel 1 (1.04 acres) for a 3,974‑square‑foot Circle K and a southern Parcel 2 (0.94 acres) for a 2,338‑square‑foot Starbucks with a drive‑through. Staff recommended CEQA infill exemption (section 15332), noted design review board suggestions that were incorporated as conditions (brick veneer on fuel canopy columns and changing bollards to black), and recommended approval of the listed entitlements.
Commissioners focused on traffic and the potential for drive‑through queues to back up onto Joiner Parkway. Staff said a traffic study was completed and reviewed by the city traffic engineer; "The study has been reviewed by not just the planning staff, but also by the city engineer who's our traffic engineer," Thomas Cruikshank said, and noted the design provides 21 stacking spaces where the code minimum is 10. Applicant representative Callie explained siting choices to maximize queue length: "This has a 21 queue stack, and so we just wanted to make sure that there was enough stack in a drive through lane to not have an overflow issue."
Nearby residents and a competing gas station owner urged caution and opposed parts of the project. Kevin Siddle said he lived five blocks away and opposed "another Starbucks" and an additional gas station across the street; Nick, the owner of the Chevron across the street, argued market conditions make a new gas station unnecessary and raised concerns about delivery truck movements and drive‑through overflow.
Given reservations about the drive‑through, Commissioner Gilbert moved to approve the package as presented in the agenda but exclude item 6 (the drive‑through CUP) so commissioners could vote on it separately. That motion passed on roll call 6–0. The commission then separately considered item 6; a subsequent roll call approved the drive‑through conditional use permit by a 5–1 vote, with Vice Chair Manning recording the lone dissenting vote.
Staff said the approvals include conditions recommended by design review and other standard conditions; the applicant's design team remains available to answer technical questions. The commission did not schedule further hearings; implementation steps will proceed through final permit issuance and building‑permit review.
