Commission approves Raising Cane's site plan at 5464 Northport Washington Road

The Glendale Planning and Architecture Review Commission voted to approve a site plan and architectural review for a proposed Raising Cane's restaurant at 5464 Northport Washington Road, the commission chair said at the meeting.

Staff member Meredith told the commission the project would demolish the existing multi-tenant building and construct a new Raising Cane's with a two-lane drive-through in a property zoned B-1-B, and recommended approval with conditions. "The drive-through exit lane will be between the building and the road," Meredith said, and staff asked for additional shade trees, screening, a sidewalk extension with a marked crosswalk, a future cross-access easement to the adjacent site, demonstration of truck circulation, and two additional bike parking spaces as conditions of approval.

Ram Subedi, who identified himself as the owner of 5464 Northport Washington Road and nearby properties, said the applicant has been working with the state Department of Transportation and is awaiting a permit to implement signal-timing changes. "We're waiting for them to issue the permit," Subedi said. He estimated the restaurant could open in the third quarter of 2027, contingent on permit timing.

Polanyi, the city staff member who reported financial comparisons, provided property-value figures for context: staff reported the existing Worth Building is valued at about $1.819 million with roughly $38,000 in property taxes, and cited a comparable Raising Cane's site in Greenfield, Wisconsin, valued at about $2.9 million with roughly $46,000 in taxes; staff said developers expect higher valuations at the Glendale site.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on traffic and access. One commissioner said she was "struggling with the one entryway in and out" given median restrictions on Port Washington, and asked whether the single south-side driveway would allow safe two-way circulation. Meredith and Subedi explained the plan includes internal two-way circulation and that signal and geometric changes reviewed by DOT and the regional traffic authority would provide separate queueing for left-turning freeway traffic.

Chair moved to approve the site's plan "subject to the four conditions that are outlined in the staff memo." Commissioner Story moved the motion and Commissioner Seligman seconded. The commission voted in favor; the chair announced, "Motion carries. Project is approved." The staff memo's conditions include: (1) address landscape comments and provide additional screening trees as determined by the city, (2) extend the sidewalk and provide a marked crosswalk to the parking area, (3) provide or reserve a cross-access easement to the adjacent property and demonstrate truck circulation, and (4) show two additional bike parking spaces for staff approval.

The owner said coordination with DOT and the city on permits and signal timing is the next step before demolition and construction can proceed. The commission adjourned following approval.