Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition – Okanagan | 24CA News
The common supervisor of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce says the business group is happy town determined to not transfer ahead with a bylaw change to ban new drive-thrus in Vernon’s core.
Earlier this week, metropolis council handed a movement that successfully killed the proposal for now.
The proposed bylaw change would have seen new drive-thru companies, all the pieces from quick meals to automobile washes, prohibited within the metropolis centre. However, present drive-thrus would have been allowed to stay.
“It would be a symbolic gesture to reduce emissions with real consequences to business,” stated chamber common supervisor Dan Proulx.
Proulx factors out that the proposed drive-thru restrictions wouldn’t cease folks from crowding the drive-thrus which are grandfathered in or utilizing supply providers.
A metropolis employees report included a wide range of causes employees was suggesting the brand new drive-thru prohibition together with town’s Climate Action Plan aim of selling lively transportation and transit.
“It is well known that transportation is the leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, and if the City is serious about acting on climate change, then plans and policies have to put active transportation and transit first,” the report stated.
“Converting to EVs alone will not meet Vernon’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and…we are still many years away from the majority of vehicles in the city becoming electric.”
The report additionally stated the lineup area wanted for ready autos is an inefficient use of economic land and the area wanted for one restaurant drive-through lineup may present “enough space for two more small businesses.”
The report added that vacant pavement “contributes to the urban heat island effect,” a phenomenon the place city areas have greater temperatures than surrounding rural areas.
The metropolis’s chamber of commerce opposed the proposal arguing a prohibition like this could drive new funding out of city.
“When we think about even just restaurant drive-throughs that can be up to 60 per cent of the revenue for that restaurant,” stated Proulx.
“It just isn’t feasible to think that those business models could sustain with the proposed 60 per cent drop in revenue or even remain competitive with those businesses that had grandfathered drive-thrus.”
Proulx additionally raised considerations in regards to the impression on these with mobility points and the aged of proscribing new drive-thrus.
City council appeared to agree so it’s not pursuing the drive-thru ban coverage.
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