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5 <br /> <br />The local study was intended to aid site designers and reviewers of various uses which <br />incorporate drive-through lanes. The study can be viewed in detail at the following <br />address: <br /> <br /> http://mikeontraffic.typepad.com/files/drive-through-queue-generation.pdf <br /> <br />Several local case studies were part of the study including coffee shops (Starbucks and <br />Caribou specifically) in the Cities of Edina, Hopkins, Minneapolis, Roseville and St. <br />Louis Park. The study found that stacking space for coffee shops ranged up to a need <br />for as many as 16 vehicles, with the 85th percentile at 13 spaces. The study concluded <br />that most coffee shops under study were were lacking in vehicle stacking space during <br />peak morning periods. Based upon observed drive-through lane activity, the study data <br />suggests that coffee shops with drive-through lanes should accommodate at least 260 <br />feet of vehicle stacking (to accommodate 13 vehicles) during morning peak hours. <br /> <br />Staff raised this issue with the applicants, citing the difficulty in accommodating just the <br />proposed 6 drive-through stacking spaces. The issue for site layout is that as the <br />parking lot fills in the one-way pattern proposed, exiting traffic would not be able to <br />move around the drive-through stack, quickly resulting in backing traffic entering the site <br />out into Little Canada Road. This problem is exacerbated as more than just the six <br />drive-through spaces are occupied, which the data appears to show is likely during peak <br />periods. <br /> <br />An alternative site layout was considered, eliminating the bypass lane and providing <br />two-way parking access, however, the applicants indicate that Caribou would not accept <br />the conceptual changes to the plan. As such, the applicants are proposing the original <br />option attached to this report. <br /> <br />Off-Street Parking <br /> <br />Supply. As shown on the submitted site plan, a total of 21 off-street parking stalls <br />are proposed upon the subject site. <br /> <br />The City’s Zoning Ordinance does not provide a specific off-street parking supply <br />requirement for “coffee shops.” Such use is however, considered somewhat similar <br />in nature to a restaurant. Applying the City’s “restaurant” standard, a total of 32 <br />parking spaces are required of the proposed use as calculated below: <br /> <br />Use Ratio Required <br />Spaces <br />Dining Area <br />(990 sf) <br />1 space per 40 sf of <br />gross floor area <br />25 <br />Kitchen <br />(570 sf) <br />1 space per 80 sf of <br />floor area <br />7 <br />Total 32 <br /> Note: floor area totals calculated by Planning Staff