What a Joke: Starbucks Drive-Thru & PLAN Hermosa
- Concerned Resident
- Feb 13, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 15, 2022
The proposed Starbucks drive-thru in NO WAY COMPLIES WITH PLAN HERMOSA. Let's dive in and take a close look at why it does not comply.
First, did the Hermosa Beach city planners use their own decision-making tool to evaluate the drive-thru's impact?
On a side note, there are other similar tools in PLAN Hermosa. We didn't want to overwhelm you but utilizing these additional tools, the drive-thru also fails the tests. Check them out for yourself.
What good are these tools if nobody ever uses them for projects like this? (page 41 - 43)
And here is the analysis:
Does it enhance/preserve open space?
No, it actually creates havoc in one of the most condensed neighborhoods in Hermosa Beach. It also creates a traffic and parking nightmare and makes it very unsafe for those who live, walk, play, and drive around the planned drive-thru space. Why? Because it reduces open space!
Is it in line with Hermosa Beach's greenhouse gas reduction goals?
Hmm, let's see. Cars produce greenhouse gas. How does adding a drive-thru, close to residential houses, reduce greenhouse gases? Flat-out, it doesn't! Drive-thrus encourage DRIVING. Driving adds more greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Also, Hermosa Beach and the residents who live right next to the drive-thru will get a first-hand daily dose of CO2.
Idling cars produce 2.5x the amount CO2 produced by cars that are in motion.
An hour of automobile idling burns approximately one-fifth of a gallon of gas and releases nearly 4 pounds of CO2 into the air. Excessive amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere can contribute to global warming. (https://ravalli.us/DocumentCenter/View/229/Vehicle-Idling)
Full disclosure: I'm not an environmental scientist but I'm just using basic math here>
So, Starbucks proposes 21 hours a day drive-thru. Let's just estimate only peak hours (6am - 10am) 4 hours (estimate) per day x 25 cars per hour x 365 per year:
4 hours a day x 25 cars per hour x 365 days a year x 4 lbs of CO2 = 146,000lbs of CO2 = 66.2 metric tons of CO2..... And that's just a conservative estimate. You can play with numbers, but anyway you slice it, that's more greenhouse gasses, not less.
Now let's just think if 540 cars come through per day:
540x365x4 = 788,400 lbs of CO2 = 357.61 metric tons
One more, say 1080 cars per day. This is actually more realistic to an almost 24 hour a day operation:
1080x365x4 = 1,576,800 lbs of CO2 = 715.22 metric tons
You get the idea - right?
So, again, city planners: how does this align with PLAN Hermosa?
Does it positively affect the health of the community?
NO, there are already a ton of Starbucks around town and really close by. This drive-thru will affect the health, safety, and environment of residents who live nearby and pedestrians and bicyclists, and anyone who comes in the path of this drive-thru. It's unsafe.
And, we just answered the CO2 question above. This affects the health of the community in a NEGATIVE way!
Does it protect Hermosa Beach's natural resources?
No, they are actually going to cut down some really big trees that have been there forever. They also plan to remove the green wall, which has beautiful green vines that produce figs. So how does cutting down trees and removing greenery protect Hermosa Beach's natural resources? Survey says: XXX it doesn't!
Does it keep the beach and ocean clean?
Starbucks and the city have tremendous problems keeping trash bins from overflowing. The city services fail at keeping the streets clean as is. Add on top of that more garbage and waste that flows into the streets and drainage. Guess where that goes? Right, the beach and ocean.
Does it promote walkability/bikeability?
"Hey, let's go walk to the drive-thru", said nobody ever.
Do we really even need to discuss the answer to this question? Well just for the sake of the city planners, let's spell it out for them: IT DOESN'T. A drive-thru on PCH's sole purpose is to bring in drivers from PCH to the drive-thru. That's why it is called a drive-thru, not a walk-thru or a bike-thru.
Seriously, you gotta wonder what the city planners are thinking or if they are capable of thinking.
Through the grant procurement effort, the City stated 11 program initiatives that the General
Plan Update would investigate. These various program initiatives address specific attributes of a sustainable community and are addressed throughout this Plan:
• Improve Air Quality and Water Quality
• Promote Infill and Compact Development
• Reduce Automobile Usage and Fuel Consumption
• Promote Water Conservation
• Promote Energy Efficiency and Conservation
• Revitalize Urban and Community Centers
Here is a nifty little chart to help dumb things down. Hint: it uses the attributes of a sustainable community and are addressed throughout Plan Hermosa.
Next let's explore the application, where Starbucks tried to explain how the drive-thru fits in with PLAN Hermosa.
From question #42 on the City of HB application answered by Starbucks, for a drive-thru in Hermosa Beach:
How is the project consistent with, and meets the goals of, the City's General Plan? Starbucks: "The new space also follows the vision of the PCH Corridor by attracting visitors/tourists as well as the surrounding residential area."
REALITY: The drive-thru is the antithesis of PLAN Hermosa and the PCH Corridor plan. The drive-thru will serve those passing through Hermosa Beach on their way to somewhere else, leaving behind pollution and making the area less safe, less healthy with more traffic and congestion. DUH!!! The drive-thru is not attracting visitors/tourists; a park attacks visitors/tourists. A Starbucks drive-thru does not!
Why would you want to attract visitors to the residential area?
Honey, kids "Come take a look at the houses that are really close to this Starbucks. Isn't it amazing how much CO2 the city allows to enter people's homes"?
Starbucks: "It also helps appreciate the open space that Hermosa Beach wants to portray."
REALITY: HUH?! I don't even really know what that means. It makes the neighborhood, PCH, and the city more congested, making it much more impossible to appreciate open space -- what kind of crack are they smoking?
Starbucks: "The building will have fluidity that carries to the ocean and outdoor patio space that will help appreciate the coast." REALITY: WTF? The drive-thru will not in any way shape or form help appreciate the coast. Environmentally it will help pollute the coast and will ruin the neighborhood. There are so many other reasons outlined in PLAN Hermosa that run contrary to this drive-thru.
The conclusion: The Starbucks Drive-Thru plan for PCH & 2nd Street does not even come close to aligning with PLAN Hermosa!
Read about it here and do your own analysis. https://www.hermosabeach.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/9872/637001018228830000
If this article inspires you, why not attend the hearing on the drive-thru. On the City's website, it's a bit confusing how to attend, as well as how you end in eComments. So we made it easy to understand how.
Just click on the button below.
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