MAC Mulls Changes to Drive-Thru Regulations

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard an informational item at their Monday night meeting which could eventually modify the standing prohibition on new drive-thru businesses.

It has long been something of a legend in Castro Valley that the town was awarded a Guinness Book of World Records “honor” for the most fast-food restaurants per capita. That may or may not be true- there’s no record of it and Castro Valley doesn’t even crack the top 50 in any recent rankings.

That said, back in 1999, the county adopted a policy to discourage drive-thru restaurants, historically linked to fast food, and the Downtown Castro Valley Specific Plan also includes prohibitive language about drive-thrus.

But according to Alameda County Planning Director Albert Lopez, attitudes about drive-thru businesses have shifted in the past 20 plus years.

“It may be time to look at this again,” said Lopez.

The review came at the request of MAC Chair Ken Carbone, who said that he wanted to make sure that businesses have some flexibility when bringing a possible new drive-thru to the unincorporated areas.

“How do we make things more flexible and how do we make things easier for the unincorporated communities that may want a drive-thru?” asked Carbone. “They are essentially forbidden now but think of things like pharmacies.”

Lopez told the MAC he’d talk to the other local advisory councils in the unincorporated area and see if they are on the same page.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the MAC unanimously denied an application to allow the continued use of a permit for a liquor store at 22058 Center Street near the intersection of Grove Way.

The store had been granted an original permit which included a mandatory review and the requirement that the owner remove bars from windows and a utility pole as well as post specific signage. The landlord has not met all those requirements and there are also three outstanding building permits.

“I think it’s time to send a message that the county is serious about conditions of approval,” said MAC member Bill Mulgrew.

Carbone agreed that he didn’t think the owner took the MAC’s recommendations seriously

The landlord did not attend the MAC meeting and MAC members were openly frustrated about the lack of adherence to the conditions they’d set forth, though they expressed sympathy for the tenants.

“I feel sorry for the tenants, but the landlord is the issue,” said MAC member Tojo Thomas.