Residents of Schenectady are rallying against the approval of a Starbucks drive-thru on Erie Boulevard, one of the city's busiest streets. An online petition, initiated by the Schenectady Residents for Responsible Development group, calls for a rehearing on the project, citing concerns about the impact on the city's walkability and safety.

The Board of Zoning Appeals recently approved the development without public input, interpreting the city's zoning ordinance to allow drive-thrus but not drive-in establishments. This decision followed a meeting in May where the Vice President of Economic Development at Metroplex supported the project. According to a CBS 6 Albany report, Erie Boulevard currently sees about 16,000 vehicles daily, with traffic expected to double due to further development.

Daniel Flynn, a petition organizer, expressed his concerns, stating, "I think that the city should realize the vision that they had of this district being pedestrian or they need to go back to the drawing board." Flynn believes a Starbucks could fit the area well but without a drive-thru. Local businesses, including Storied Coffee, have also voiced support for the petition, arguing that the drive-thru would not benefit the local business community.

The petition, hosted on Change.org, highlights the need for public involvement in the decision-making process. It argues that the development contradicts the city's goal of maintaining a pedestrian-friendly downtown district. The Board of Zoning Appeals is scheduled to meet at City Hall on Wednesday (July 9) at 6:30 p.m. to review the development further.

The Herd with Colin Cowherd