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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPROJECT NARRATIVE - 23-00605 - Dutch Bros - New Commercial Bldg PROJECT NARRATIVE Dutch Bros Coffee 855 W Main Street Rexburg, ID 83440 Store No. ID-0906 Prepared by: Barghausen Consulting Engineers, Inc. 18215 72nd Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 August 31, 2023 Job No. 22674 1 22674.005-Project Narrative.docx Project Overview The project proposes to develop a 0.99-acre parcel for construction of a new 950 square-foot Dutch Bros Coffee with double drive-through lanes to accommodate up to 26 vehicles in the queue. A separate covered service window will be offered for walk-up customers on the eastern side of the building opposite the drive- through service window. Other improvements include perimeter and interior landscaping, a trash and recycling enclosure, and an ADA accessible pedestrian path throughout the site. Surface parking for seven (7) vehicles is provided including one (1) ADA parking space. The property is currently designated as Commercial/Mixed Use in the Comprehensive Plan and zoned as Community Business Center (CBC). Eating places or restaurants are a permitted use in the zoning district. Dutch Bros Coffee Characteristics Dutch Bros Coffee, known for their upbeat baristas and genuinely caring service, is a growing drive-through coffee company with more than 700 locations in 15 states and over 16,500 employees. The three main values of Dutch Bros Coffee include speed, quality, and service. All Dutch Bros Coffee locations serve Private Reserve Coffee, White Coffee, and Decaf Coffee as espresso options, all roasted in Grants Pass, Oregon. Along with coffee, the menu includes a variety of Dutch Bros Blue Rebel energy drinks, lemonade, and tea. Limited packaged food items will be provided such as muffin tops and granola bars. Dutch Bros Coffee continues to grow; wherever it does, the love, donations and smiles grow with it. The company donates over $3.5 million a year to its local communities and non-profit organizations. Dutch Bros Foundation and Dutch Bros Coffee are both about people first and actively engage in its communities through giving and action in four core areas: youth, music, health, and origins. Site Amenities The proposed Dutch Bros Coffee building will be constructed on a vacant site. Access will be from an existing shared access drive off West Main Street. The shared drive also provides access to the hotel to the south and the gas station to the east. The access will lead to the vehicle drive-through lane to the west, wrapping around the west and north property line leading to the drive-through service window on the western side of the building. The project will include a separate customer window that is oriented to the east of the site to serve pedestrian walk-up traffic only. Queuing and Stacking Approximately 500 feet of stacking space is available behind the drive-through window to provide queuing for up to 26 vehicles. Dutch Bros Coffee will implement a runner system at the proposed facility that is designed to increase speed and efficiency in serving drive-through customers. Dutch Bros Coffee employees travel from vehicle to vehicle to greet customers and take orders. These "runners" utilize a handheld device to transmit customer's orders to the multiple drink stations inside the building. Additionally, runners will charge individuals while in line, so by the time they arrive at the service window, they may pick up their order and be on their way. This system decreases wait times, while allowing the runners to have a more personal face-to-face interaction with customers. The drive-through will not include any speaker boxes. All customer orders are taken in person either at the window or with a runner that carries a handheld device to transmit orders to the kitchen. This ordering process minimizes noise impacts and decreases the amount of vehicle idling at menu boards that are common at traditional drive-through facilities. Operational Measures Dutch Bros Coffee is proposing an extensive directional sign package that will direct customers throughout the site. In addition, the layout of the site was designed to create the best possible flow and the maximum queuing possible to reduce spillover onto neighboring properties or the public roads. All staff are required to attend a monthly shop meeting to discuss traffic plans in detail. In addition, the staff will gather before 2 22674.005-Project Narrative.docx each shift to ensure that the traffic strategy is set. Approximately three (3) or four (4) staff will be dedicated to the parking area throughout the day to take orders and receive payments. In addition, one (1) person's sole responsibility will be traffic control. Tactics will include instructing all vehicles to pull forward as close as possible to utilize the maximum queuing available, directing cars into the waiting area or the escape lane, if needed, and ensuring no cars are blocking the road or areas they are not allowed to block. These measures, in addition to implementing the runner system described above, will reduce the customer's time at the window to 30 to 45 seconds. If customers are taking longer than that timeframe, the drink runners will bring drinks to the customers in line behind the window to allow those customers to exit via the bypass lane. This means customers are not required to reach the drive-through window to receive their order and exit the site. These measures significantly minimize the potential for queuing spillover outside the dedicated drive-through lanes. The typical hours of operation are 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day of the week. The facility may operate 24 hours on a permanent or seasonal basis in the future. Architecture The proposed building is visually interesting and will be constructed with a variety of high-quality building materials and painted with simple, bold colors. Vertical and horizontal façade breaks, building massing, and modulation have all been incorporated into the design of the building. Canopy awnings are provided over all entrances and service doors, including a large canopy awning over the customer walk-up service window providing weather protection. The building features modulation with a tower element, building wall articulation, and building materials that are aesthetic and compatible with other newer developments in the community. Signs and Lighting Signs proposed for use at the project site will conform to the City of Rexburg Zoning Code. Signs proposed to be installed at the project site include wall signs, menu signs, drive-through, parking lot, and directional signs. Signs will be constructed with high-quality materials and properly installed under separate permits. Site lighting will be provided at the project site for the safety and security of all customers, pedestrians, and employees. Outdoor lighting and illumination at the site will include parking lot security lighting and pedestrian scale lighting within the patio space and along the pedestrian pathway. Exterior building lighting will be installed on the building façade. The drive-through area will be provided with security lighting. All lights will include shields to direct light toward the project site and keep glare away from the adjacent land uses and rights-of-way. Conclusion The proposed 950 square-foot Dutch Bros Coffee will complement the commercial character of the area and exemplifies the design principles of the City of Rexburg Code. Dutch Bros Coffee is a successful business that promotes improvement of the existing commercial area. Dutch Bros Coffee locations are known to be clean and well maintained, providing quick service from friendly staff. The proposed coffee shop will provide excellent products and service, along with landscaped areas and pedestrian open space at the project site that will benefit all customers and users in the immediate vicinity and the surrounding areas. The above narrative demonstrates how the proposal will increase the overall quality of the project site and positively impact the citizens and businesses of the surrounding community.