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Council Watch New Long's drive-thru welcomed by neighbors
Permits for liquor, drive-up window sail through process
By Jessica Lyons
Last Wednesday afternoon, the City Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit and liquor license allowing Longs Drug Store to build a pharmacy drive-through window and sell off-sale alcohol--only from within the store--at its new 1405 Foxworthy Ave. location.
The approved permits allow Longs to use the drive-through window to dispense prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines only. Both uses will occur during normal business hours, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
It appears that Willow Glen neighbors have no complaints about the operation. Several residents--including Willow Glen Neighborhood Association president Kris Cunningham-- wrote letters voicing no objection to the drive-through pharmacy; no one at the meeting spoke out against the drug store.
"Everyone seems to support Long's moving in," says Ron Eddow, senior planner with the city. "It will provide another anchor tenant in the shopping center and it is desired by the neighbors."
Based on statistics gleaned from other stores within the chain, increased traffic volume resulting from the drive-through window is not a concern, Eddow says. Compared to the traffic, noise and vehicle emissions typically generated by drive-through restaurants, banks and car washes, the Long's proposal is very low intensity.
"We have had nothing but positive feedback," Long's developer George Ramstad says. "Everyone wants to know when it will open."
Longs will begin construction in April, and will open for business in early November. The retail pharmacy will occupy a 12,620-square-foot space that is now unoccupied in the Foxworthy Shopping Center, located at the northwest corner of Foxworthy and Cherry Avenues.
In December '98, Longs and the District 9 City Council Office held a community meeting to explain the proposal to area residents and WGNA members. All of the neighbors directly north and east of the development were present.
"The neighbors at the meeting had no objections," Cunningham says. "The drive-through is an advantage to our elderly, it's an advantage to people with children and people with disabilities. The neighbors' input was very important, and they felt the service Long's would be providing was important to the community."
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
