The Barrington Zoning Board of Review will hear an application for a new Starbucks restaurant in Barrington at its meeting on Thursday night, Aug. 19.

The application is for a special use permit for a drive-through lane at the Starbucks, which is being proposed for the space formerly filled by the Jos. A. Banks store in the Barrington Shopping Center. There is currently a Starbucks located farther east in the shopping center, but it does not include a drive-through lane.

According to information provided as part of the application, the drive-through lane would run along the western side of the building. It could accommodate more than 10 vehicles in queuing line.

Improvements associated with the work include a new crosswalk area connecting the East Bay Bike Path with the Barrington Shopping Center. 

The Barrington Technical Review Committee recently reviewed the plan and recommended some minor changes — some additional signs where the bike path connector is located, more shade trees, and compliance with ADA requirements.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. inside the Barrington Town Hall council chambers. It is open to the public. 

Previous plan

More than a year ago, the Barrington Planning Board denied an earlier plan to bring a Starbucks restaurant to the former BP Gas Station property on County Road. 

At that time, board members said they supported the development of a new Starbucks in town, but not if it included a drive-through lane. More specifically, members said that plan’s drive-through lane did not comply with the town’s development plan review standards, zoning ordinance or comprehensive plan. 

Some members of the board said they were worried that traffic along County Road would be impacted by the drive-through lane — they even cited the town’s zoning ordinance 200-90 B, which states that "Traffic exiting from a drive-through facility shall not exit the parcel onto County Road.”

The former BP Gas Station property also abuts some residential lots. Planning board members and some people who live nearby said they were concerned about the exhaust from idling cars, and the noise from the vehicles and menu board.

Some people also questioned whether a drive-through lane for Starbucks fit the town’s goal of creating a more walkable community.