McDonald’s-Inspired Drive-Thru Ordinance Heads to City Council

An ordinance, inspired by the , is moving forward that could shape future drive-thru plans in Lakewood.

Drive-thru windows may still be conditionally approved in Lakewood, but it could become a lot more difficult for businesses to get them.

The OK’d the proposed changes to the city’s zoning code at on Thursday night.

The ordinance will now make its way to Lakewood City Council for review.

Among the proposed changes are new standards that include:

• Requiring business with drive-thru windows to conduct traffic studies.
• To install point-of-service speakers more than 50 feet away from the foundation of residential property — a break in the original plan that called for the drive-thru to be 50 feet away from the property line.
• No drive-thru in the city could operate between midnight and 6 a.m. — and no drive-thru adjacent to a residentially zoned area shall operate between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, there may be exceptions.
• Use of sound attenuation walls and landscaping would be encouraged.
• Limits on the lane itself, including that each stacking space must be at least 20 feet and the drive-thru lane must be separated from the parking lot with a striped line.

An item that noted that drive-thrus must also have a walk-up window was removed from the initial proposal.

Sean McDermott, a Lakewood resident and real estate professional, said he supports the ordinance, but has concerns.

“It’s absolutely imperative that we have these tools in the arsenal,” he said. “But, I think it’s too restrictive — just a little bit,” he added, noting the 10 p.m. restriction.

The 31 drive-thru windows currently operating in the city — as well as the proposed McDonald’s at the location of the former — would not be affected by any changes to the code.

“The challenge is always balancing our long commercial corridors with residential neighborhood,” said Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development.

“How do we promote growth and development in the commercial sector, but also protect our neighborhoods? We’ve always said that housing is our No. 1 industry — housing is our economic development in Lakewood. This is that effort to have that discussion." 

It’s not just new fast-food restaurants that would be affected by the changes, but drive-thru pharmacies and banks. 

This wasn’t the first the commission discussion reviewed the issue. The commission first addressed the proposal in July.

After to plant the on the former Detroit Theatre property in April, have turned to to voice their concerns.

At the , the city’s planning and development department conducted a review of every drive-thru in Lakewood and compiled a summary of the applicable language in the current zoning code.

“We’re not going to prohibit anyone from being here, but the reality is that Lakewood might not be everybody,” Siley said recently. “If you’re the type of business that thinks you’re going to plunk down your prototype building with a sea of parking and a drive-thru that weaves all the way around a building made with cheap materials — it’s not going to happen.”