New Drive-Thru Granted Extra Time to Get Sorted

Add to the list of new restaurants slated to open shop in Darien: The Palm, a healthy fast-food drive-thru that should be ready to for business this fall. Co-owner Thomas Toepke came before the Planning & Zoning Commission Tuesday night to review a few of the stipulations set forth in the special permit and received an 90-day extension to fulfill those requirements.

The proposal for The Palm, its location at the intersection of the Post Road and Richmond Drive, first came before the commission at a public hearing in late November and once again in late January. The major concern heard then was the potential traffic increase, a variable that's hard to predict given the novel business philosophy.

"You're sort of sending us a trial balloon," said Chair Fred Conze.

P&Z granted a special permit in early March with a number of modifications and stipulations that take into account the drive thru's location on the edge of a residential neighborhood.

The plan is to widen the driveway entry off of Richmond Drive, allowing for two entry lanes: one for first-timers, and a second for repeat customers or those who have called, faxed or emailed in their orders.

Conditions in the special permit approval also require a simplified menu to speed up the order and pickup process and call for "no queuing on Richmond Drive."

"We wanted to avoid the 'hold the pickles, hold the relish,' because you cant get people though quickly if you're going to be customizing everyone's order," said Conze.

Neighbors are skeptical that the terms in the resolution will keep traffic at bay.

"If it succeeds, it will bring an increase in traffic, and if it fails and we're left with the zoning," said Richmond Drive resident Joe Pizzarelli.

The moment of truth will come this fall, when The Palm opens for quick-and-healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most food preparation will take place off-site, and the latest menu will not require any sort of ventilation system.

"We might be able to accomplish our entire menu using three turbo ovens," said Toepke.

A turbo oven is a microwave, convection oven hybrid. Conze said he owns one and loves it.

The near three-month extension means Toepke and business partner Gertrude Allen Wood have until early September to fulfill all the drainage, fit-up and traffic requirements outlined in the permit.