Tuolumne County Municipal Code Art. 4 Chapter 17.56

DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITIES Sections:

• 17.56.010 Purpose.
• 17.56.020 Applicability.
• 17.56.030 Permit Required.
• 17.56.040 Development and Operational Standards.

Chapter is to establish standards for the location, site planning, development, and operations of certain land uses that are allowed by Article 2, Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses, within individual or multiple districts, and for activities that require special standards to minimize the impacts of these uses and activities on surrounding properties and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their occupants and of the general public.

contained in this Chapter shall apply to all drive-through facilities uses.

facility uses shall be subject to approval of the specified permit as detailed in the use tables in Article 2.

Standards. The following regulations shall apply to all drive-through facilities.
A. Drive-through facilities shall be designed and constructed so as not to impose adverse impacts on adjacent uses or the surrounding neighborhood because of customer or employee parking demand, traffic generation, noise, light, litter, or other potentially objectionable impacts. B. Development Standards.
1. Drive-through Stacking Length. Stacking lanes for drive-through customers shall be of sufficient length to accommodate at least six vehicles, measuring a minimum of 9 feet by 18 feet per vehicle, unless additional stacking length is required by the approving authority. Stacking length shall be in addition to the number of parking spaces required for the use.
2. Access and Circulation. A drive-through facility shall comply with the following site design elements:
a. Drive-through facilities shall have two points of ingress/egress either to a public street or to an interior parking lot circulation system which serves a group of businesses.
b. Vehicle entrances to drive through businesses shall be located a minimum of 200 feet from the nearest intersection, except where the Public Works Director determines that a proposed alternate distance is safely appropriate, per the recommendation of a site- and operation- specific Traffic Impact Study created by a licensed Traffic Engineer.

c. Separate queuing and circulation shall be provided for drive- through traffic to ensure access for other traffic to parking spaces or exits without waiting in drive-through service lanes, unless it is determined by the approving authority that access to parking spaces is not unreasonably obstructed.
d. Site design shall minimize pedestrian/ vehicle conflicts and avoid locating driveways and service areas in a manner that would interfere with the flow of on-site circulation.
3. Design Characteristics. Drive- through facilities shall be provided with screening and protection from wind and sun through the use of special landscape and architectural treatments such as berming; screen walls and bays around the drive aisle; and roof overhang, porte-cochere, or other roofing protection integrated into the design of the building.
4. Landscaping. Drive-through facilities shall provide a minimum of 10 feet of landscaping between the drive-through lane and adjacent streets. Such landscaping will count toward landscaping required by the County Code of Ordinances.
5. Hours of Operation. The drive- through of any facility located adjacent to any zoning district which allows a residential use may only be operational between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The approval of the required permit may further restrict the hours of operation for such restaurants when adjacent to other uses or districts and where modified hours are necessary to mitigate potential adverse impacts related to noise, traffic, or lighting.