St. Paul loosens drive-thru ban with strict limits
The St. Paul City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to once again allow new drive-thrus citywide, but only under tight zoning and design rules that bar them from downtown, high‑frequency transit corridors and stand‑alone buildings. The ordinance requires far longer 'stacking' queues than before—12 vehicle spaces for restaurant lanes and 14 for coffee shops—to keep lines from spilling into traffic, and mandates that pedestrian access be designed so people never have to cross a drive‑thru lane or other vehicle circulation to reach a business. City leaders are framing the compromise as a way to balance convenience and economic development with Vision Zero–style safety goals after years of pressure to curb conflicts between cars and walkers; it also underscores a clear policy split with Minneapolis, which has kept an outright ban on new drive‑thrus since 2019. For St. Paul residents, the change will shape how future fast‑food, coffee and pharmacy projects are built in neighborhood commercial nodes while trying to protect bus corridors and the core from more car congestion.
📌 Key Facts
- St. Paul City Council voted Wednesday to allow new drive-thrus but with specific siting and design restrictions.
- New drive-thrus are prohibited downtown, in high-frequency transit areas, and in stand-alone buildings.
- Restaurants must provide stacking space for at least 12 cars and coffee shops for 14, and pedestrian access cannot require crossing drive-thru lanes.
📊 Relevant Data
In Minnesota, almost 80% of White people live in a household with access to two or more cars or trucks, but less than 50% of Black people do.
Race and Transportation Trend Analysis — Minnesota GO
Drive-thru bans in Minneapolis have faced opposition from disability advocacy groups due to accessibility issues for people with disabilities.
2022: Drive-through lane debate raises accessibility issues — MN.gov
Minneapolis's ban on new drive-thrus is likely to have limited impact on greenhouse emissions.
Minneapolis Bans Drive-Throughs; Will It Do Any Good? — Larkin Hoffman
St. Paul's population grew about 9% between 2010 and 2020, with increasing diversity.
State demographer: Saint Paul's post-2010 growth has leveled off as population ages and diversifies — Citizen Portal AI
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