St. Paul postpones crackdown on drive-throughs

Everyone knows St. Paul businesses face a tough time these days, from an implosion of workers downtown to ever-higher property taxes and fees. But that reality apparently pales in comparison to saving the planet from the emissions of vehicles taking advantage of drive-through windows in the minds of some members of the St. Paul City Council.

A prohibition on new drive-through services and tighter restrictions on existing businesses that cater to cars recently came up before the city council. The tone-deaf proposal took center stage, the Pioneer Press notes, despite stiff opposition.

A closely-watched zoning proposal before the St. Paul City Council would ban all future restaurant drive-throughs citywide, while creating new rules limiting pharmacy and bank drive-throughs near public transit stations, among other regulations.

The proposal had pit the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, some advocates for the disabled and individual franchise owners against proponents of greater pedestrian access and walkability, but it also raised questions with council members.

At a time of growing commercial vacancies in key parts of the city, and during a tough time for small businesses citywide, why add a new layer of regulations?

A good, albeit obvious, question. The discussion focused on the detrimental impact of eliminating drive-throughs, not only on business owners but also on parents with a car-full of kids and customers with disabilities.

Council Member Anika Bowie noted that without drive-throughs, parents would have to take their kids out of the car in order to get food and drinks.

Other business advocates raised the likelihood that rather than inspire more sit-down eateries, blocking franchises from establishing drive-throughs would simply disinvite them from moving into the city at all, leaving more vacant storefronts and dark corners — a potential detriment to public safety.

It occurred to some to question whether the city may have more important priorities to tackle, rather than picking on drive-through businesses. But St. Paul City Council President Mitra Jalali, whose ward faces a fentanyl crisis, insisted the proposed restrictions would benefit her constituents.

Jalali said that in her political ward, “the nuisance of drive-throughs is unfortunately a daily problem” over which the city has few regulatory tools, in part because University Avenue is a county road and Snelling Avenue is a trunk highway.

The “pedestrian experience on each of those is miserable in too many places,” said Jalali, pointing to a former drive-through Starbucks near Snelling and Selby avenues, and at a Taco Bell closer to Snelling and University avenues.

Others pointed out that the feel-good measure would likely have little environmental impact, given the ability of consumers to figure out ways around it.

A representative of the St. Paul Chamber noted recent media reports about “pharmacy deserts” across the state, a problem that could be exacerbated, and pointed out that rather than lower auto emissions, consumers will use a smart phone app to order delivery or simply drive farther. Problem drive-throughs could be addressed through a more targeted look, on a case-by-case basis, he said.

Ultimately, city councilors voted 6 to 1 to postpone action on the measure until next September. But as surely as a customer at a Starbucks drive-through, they’ll be back.