Fast food restaurants with drive-through service could face a major change in one California city. While this model continues to be one of the main ways of shopping for millions of consumers in the United States, local authorities are analyzing a measure that would prevent the opening of new establishments with self-service lanes. The proposal has opened an intense debate among residents, officials and representatives of the restaurant industry, who maintain opposing positions on the impact this decision would have.

The city studying this restriction is Culver City. If the initiative is approved, no new fast food restaurant with drive-thru service would be able to obtain permits to operate under that format, LAist reported. The measure, however, would not affect the eight self-service businesses that currently operate in the town.

The debate arose over a project to build a new In-N-Out restaurant, which would be the first drive-thru establishment of its kind in Culver City since 1997, according to a report by city staff. According to project documents, the restaurant would have 61 parking spaces and a drive-thru lane with capacity for 26 vehicles.

The concern of a group of neighbors prompted the discussion, since they consider that a development of these characteristics would increase road congestion, affect air quality and represent a risk for pedestrians and cyclists on nearby streets.

Against this backdrop, the Culver City City Council approved a 45-day moratorium in June that temporarily suspended the issuance of permits for new drive-thru businesses. During that period, city staff works on the text of an ordinance that will then be analyzed by the planning commission before returning to City Council for a final vote.

“Population density is inevitable, and so is urban development,” said Vanessa Martin, a resident organizing support for the ban, in statements reported by LAist. “We want to be proactive and smart about it.”

You may also be interested in: