ORLA Launches Social Media Campaign to Stop the Ban on Portland Drive Throughs
Wilsonville, OR (PRWEB) April 13, 2016 -- The Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA) has launched a campaign asking members of the Portland City Council to rethink their approach to harmful restrictions on Portland drive through locations. The new policy, which is proposed by Mayor Charlie Hales and recommended by city staff, would prohibit drive through facilities in the Central City, and limit them in centers and corridors. The proposed language is referenced on Page 19 as a “New Policy after 4.23” of the 2035 Comprehensive Plan Draft City Council Amendments.
“Drive through facilities are needed in the daily lives of people throughout Portland and should be accommodated, not prohibited or limited, by the City’s commercial zones and development standards,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO for the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Mothers with children, people with disabilities, and the elderly rely on the convenience and accessibility that drive through locations provide for grocery stores, banks, dry cleaners, restaurants, pharmacies, coffee kiosks, car washes, and fuel stations.”
If adopted, the language in the City’s proposed 2035 Comprehensive Plan Amendments could result in limitations on future drive throughs, and the closure of existing drive throughs in the future if remodels and retrofits do not fit within the constraints of new development standards. As the City considers final amendments to their 2035 Comprehensive Plan goals, ORLA is asking elected leaders to provide more flexibility in their approach to these standards within commercial zones.
“Our hope is that the Portland City Council will remove this new proposed policy altogether from the list of amendments under consideration,” said Brandt. “We believe it sends the wrong message to Portlanders about the need for mobility to go about our daily lives.”
Concerned citizens can visit the website http://www.stopthebanpdx.com to view videos about the importance of drive throughs to the Portland community. Citizens can also take action by calling Mayor Charlie Hales at 503-823-4120 or at mayorcharliehales(at)portlandoregon(dot)gov via email and tell Mayor Hales to not ban drive throughs in our city!
Jason Brandt, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, http://www.OregonRLA.org, +1 (971) 224-1506, [email protected]
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