麻豆精选 council gave the green light to a new Triple O鈥檚 and Chevron gas bar proposed along Highway 97 and Sexsmith Road during a May 12 public hearing.
Albeit, with a tinge of reluctance, according to the mayor.
City staff recommended non-support on the application in part due to the city鈥檚 climate action plan and the GHG emissions caused by idling in drive-thru lanes, but council decided against that recommendation.
The new burger joint was also proposed on industrial land, prompting the need for council to grant a variance to allow for the restaurant and drive-thru at the gas bar.
鈥淲hile drive-thrus represent a convenient way for many to pick up a meal, it cannot be said that they are a necessity,鈥� read the report by city planner Aaron Thibeault. 鈥淩ather, it is a choice, and a choice that comes with a cost.鈥�
While councillors largely agreed that drive-thrus do have an environmental impact, they said the area is largely car-centric and the impact of not approving it would be negligible.
鈥淒o I think we are going to save the planet with this particular application? No,鈥� said Mayor Colin Basran. 鈥淚s it another cut? Potentially.鈥�
Coun. Luke Stack said the solution should be to encourage people to reduce their own emissions and not to 鈥渙utlaw drive-thrus.鈥�
鈥淚 go through one every day literally, but I drive an electric vehicle, so I don鈥檛 have any emissions,鈥� said Stack.
Much of the concern from residents sent to council 鈥� and posted on social media 鈥� was surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and how important drive-thrus have become in terms of getting food.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 build cities based on pandemics,鈥� said Coun. Ryan Donn, the lone councillor against the proposal in the 8-1 vote.
鈥淎t some point, we are going to have to say no if we genuinely want to move the dial lower to reduce people using cars.鈥�
The proposal also shows plans for landscaping to minimize the visual impact of the drive-thru 鈥� which the applicant described as quite extravagant compared to proposals it has made in other cities 鈥� and two electric vehicle charging stations.
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