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player ready...The City Council on Monday ended its two-year ban on new banks locating along Randall Road by approving changes to the zoning code that keep drive-through operations set back from the street.
The code changes require banks with drive-through windows to be set back at least 250 feet from the Randall Road right-of-way so that drive-through patrons can form waiting lines without blocking traffic on Randall or its cross streets.
Banks without drive-through windows can still be built within 250 of the street–in fact, the revised zoning code classes financial institutions as a permitted use in B-3 commercial corridors, rather than as a conditional use requiring City Council approval.
“It’s the banks with the drive-through facilities that really concern us,” said City Manager Bill McGrath. “Putting them right on the corners creates a lot of traffic problems.”
Restricting banks with drive-through windows will effectively discourage all new banks from locating on Randall Road because most banking firms won’t build new branches without them, officials agreed.