Several weeks ago a Chezsven blog reader suggested a vacation. I have been in Los Angeles with my son's family for nine days now. Today, I read news from the Wellfleet Chamber of Commerce that will interest you all. Since I feel very strongly that we need to preserve the unique quality of our town, ie. that it is different from Everywhere, USA, I am against the installation of drive-through service at our local Dunkin' Donuts. How do you feel about this? Here is the low-down from the Wellfleet Chamber:"The Wellfleet Dunkin’ Donuts franchise coffee shop will go before the Wellfleet Board of Zoning Appeals Thursday December 1 to obtain a special permit to install drive-through service for its patrons. Wellfleet Dunkin’ Donuts has been serving its patrons inside its 2393 Route 6 location since it opened in the summer of 2010.
On Nov. 7 the State’s Attorney General’s office approved a bylaw passed by the Spring Town Meeting April 25, 2011. The bylaw prohibits any future fast food and formula restaurants. A formula restaurant is defined in the local bylaw as any establishment which has standardized features that would identify it as one of 25 or more worldwide. A fast food restaurant is characterized as one with drive-up window service.
The special permit Dunkin’ Donuts is requesting is an exemption from the recently passed bylaw. The Town Meeting did not prohibit formula businesses other than food service, such as big box stores or CVS.
Under the provisions of existing bylaws in Wellfleet the ZBA can approve the special permit only if it finds that the benefits of the proposal will outweigh any adverse effects on the Town.
Opponents of the special permit feel the potential automobile congestion would be detrimental to the residents and other businesses in the area which abuts Cove Road. They also express concern that entering or exiting Route Six will become more dangerous.
Supporters of the special permit feel it will enhance tourism because out-of-town visitors expect this kind of service.
The ZBA meeting will be at the Council on Aging on Dec. 1, 2011 at 7 pm."
Logging you in...
amywellfleet 46p · 695 weeks ago
chezsven 82p · 695 weeks ago
"I saw you posting today about the proposed drive-through at Dunkin Donuts. I am very much opposed to this development, and do plan to attend the meeting. It may seem strange to argue for the aesthetics of a place that has long been known as a bit of a wasteland. Let's face it, the property where Dunkin has set up shop is not attractive to begin with. Its over-large parking lot dominates the approach to Wellfleet from off-Cape. The old IGA building, situated at the back of the lot is tired, and even with the good intentions of small businesses there, and the bright flags of Dunkin, the whole "mall" has never gained the liveliness one feels in a row of shops in a real town center. With all that as a starting point, should we care?
First, because the drive through represents, plain and simple, an intensification of Dunkin Donuts presence in Wellfleet. We have just recently put our heads together to conclude we don't want more such places in town. We want to be a healthier, more sustainably vibrant community. Let's stand firm in that resolve.
Second, because drive through culture is not what Wellfleet wants for itself. When we sit in town committee meetings wondering how to attract appealing year round businesses, we entertain ideas for telling the world about Wellfleet's special qualities and lifestyle. We say we want more creative entrepreneurs to get to know us, and to put down roots here. We claim we want to cultivate the notion that this is a place worth getting to know, to stop and stay a while, to put down roots, and to put a shoulder to the plow. Wellfleet is not a pit stop, let's not give it the physical trappings of one.
Third because there are more future oriented things to do with giant parking lots than to continue to use them for modeling America's moribund car culture. Here's an idea we might adopt, perhaps with cultural council funds and school kids' energy: a garden that plays a role in improving run off and some great lessons in what happens when you pave paradise and put up a parking lot: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/garden/creating...
See you at the ZBA meeting, December 1, 7pm at the Senior Center in Wellfleet."
chezsven 82p · 695 weeks ago
Kerry Dexter · 695 weeks ago
My recent post Cathie Ryan: teaching tradition
david wright · 695 weeks ago
Stanley · 695 weeks ago
I can certainly understand why some residents (tough certainly not all) in Wellfleet are opposed for aesthetic or ideological or environmental reasons, though I generally oppose regulation that removes the ability of resident consumers to choose for themselves and let the market determine success or failure of such a venture. This is especially so when such regulations would prevent capital investment, squelch job creation, or lower the town's potential tax base with little or no actual, tangible benefit to show for it.
As far as the location goes, I find a strip mall on the side of busy Route 6 to be the most proper location for such a venue in all of Wellfleet. It's commercial zoning, and not exactly walkable. There is nothing along 6 that is particularly historic, quinessentially "Wellfleet," or substantially different than anywhere else on 6 (or the rest of roadside America). Well, there was "Hopper's" gas
pit stop,' but that wasn't important enough to maintain, or not raze. Imagine if he had painted a Dunkin' instead of a Texaco ??
I understand the emotional statements against "pit stops" and the "moribund car culture," but let's face reality: Wellfleet lives and dies by the tourist dollar alone. The tourists arrive by automobile, most of the time. They often want to buy coffee. Route 6 is a tourism highway chock-a-block with strip malls, t- shirt shops, and greasy food (some of it franchised!) for the length of the Cape. Appropriate development in appropriate locations, done correctly, is no harm to a picturesque, historic, arty and vibrant small town.
Use the reg's and ordinances to keep Jamba Juice or Starbucks off Main Street, as intended, not to impair the profitability of a local employer or inconvenience travelers that might not otherwise stop and spend ANY money in town.
The garden idea sounds great, but there are better Wellfleet locations for a community garden (and doughnuts don't grow on trees! ;) ). Maybe a neighbor would like to offer their own yard/acreage for a community garden effort, rather than volunteering someone else's commercially zoned real estate.
PS Sandy glad you are in sunny SoCal, hope family makes it that much brighter
-Stan
chezsven 82p · 695 weeks ago
stan · 694 weeks ago
As with your examples, I recall Cumberland Farms, Mobil, Dunkin, PJ's, a package store, bank branches, a motel or two, ice cream, the strip mall - typical of suburban sprawl type development, distasteful as it may be - yet an essential transport corridor providing needed services to residents and visitors. But walkable, or quaint or historic? Not really (beside the cemetery). Does DD change the character of the public space? Not in my opinion.
I know the intersection there is pretty bad for turning traffic, though.
I feel your pain about the empty cups. But I believe that is a 'self absorbed, irresponsible litterbug' problem, not a 'Dunkin' one. That is, the problem such as it is, is certain people and their behaviors. Paper cups don't litter, tourists do. :)
chezsven 82p · 694 weeks ago
Laura Kelley · 694 weeks ago