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Woodburn Planning Commission approves Popeyes drive‑through with pedestrian and landscaping conditions
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a design review and street‑adjustment for a new Popeyes drive‑through at 1516 Mount Hood Avenue, adding conditions requiring ADA ramps, crosswalk restriping coordinated with ODOT, expanded sidewalks and a multi‑row landscaping plan to improve pedestrian safety and stormwater retention.
The Woodburn Planning Commission on Sept. 11 approved a design review and street‑adjustment application for a proposed Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 1516 Mount Hood Avenue, with conditions intended to improve pedestrian safety and the site’s landscaping. Chair Lisa Ellsworth closed the quasi‑judicial hearing and the commission voted to direct staff to prepare a final decision for the chair to sign.
Heidi Hinshaw, associate planner, told commissioners the proposal is “a limited service eating place...2,561 square feet, 2 drive through lanes,” and described staff’s emphasis on pedestrian connectivity, additional landscaping and stormwater benefits from more plantings. Staff recommended conditions that include an eight‑foot protected sidewalk in lieu of a bike lane, upgraded ADA ramps and restriping of at least the south and east crosswalks in coordination with ODOT, along with on‑site landscaping that exceeds the code’s plant‑unit requirements.
Applicant representatives said the two‑lane order configuration and on‑site striping are intended to reduce queuing impacts. Civil engineer Jenna Sparrowgrove said the applicant provided a traffic study that did not identify a likely overflow into the shared drive aisle and that do‑not‑enter markings and directional arrows will be added to keep circulation one‑way. Architect Jim Toporik described the planned building materials and glazing and said the development will improve the appearance of the center.
Other conditions noted in the staff packet include a requirement for street trees at roughly one per 30 feet (with a fee‑in‑lieu option for up to five trees if underground infrastructure prevents planting), landscape islands roughly every 10 parking spaces, a sidewalk connection from the bus stop to the restaurant entrance, and coordination with ODOT because the intersection is on an ODOT‑managed facility. Hinshaw also noted a modest transit mitigation fee is charged based on parking spaces (about "$3" per space) to go into the transit fund.
Commissioners voiced support for the staff‑recommended conditions, stressing that clearer striping, arrows and ADA improvements at the busy Highway 214 / Mount Hood Avenue intersection will benefit pedestrians accessing nearby amenities including medical facilities. After deliberation a commissioner moved to approve case 2054 with the staff conditions and the motion carried on voice vote; the chair instructed staff to prepare a final written decision for signature.
The commission’s action is a final decision within the local quasi‑judicial process subject to appeal procedures described in the staff hearing statement; several required conditions (notably crosswalk and striping changes on the highway) are contingent on ODOT approval.
