Drive-through decision is pulling ahead

This summer, St. Paul residents, including people with disabilities, will learn whether new drive-through services will be restricted, limited, or banned altogether. The Planning Commission is expected to make recommendations in July, which will then go to the City Council for a final hearing and vote. Existing drive-throughs would be grandfathered in, but new regulations could make it harder for businesses to add drive-throughs.

The proposals come amid the city's 2040 comprehensive plan, which aims to make St. Paul more walkable and address problems with some existing drive-throughs, such as blocked sidewalks or traffic and safety concerns. One proposal would limit drive-throughs to banks and pharmacies in certain areas, ban them entirely in the downtown core, and add design requirements for pedestrian safety and vehicle queuing near transit stations.

While the Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities discussed the proposals earlier in the spring, the group lacked a quorum and could not formally weigh in. Concerns raised included safety when crossing parking lots and access to pharmacies. As the Planning Commission moves forward, the impact of any new rules on accessibility for people with disabilities remains a key consideration.