Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition Vernon, B.C. chamber of commerce pleased city not pursuing drive-thru prohibition
Global News
The proposed bylaw change would have seen new drive-thru businesses, everything from fast food to car washes, prohibited in the city center.
The general manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce says the business organization is pleased the city decided not to move forward with a bylaw change to prohibit new drive-thrus in Vernon’s core.
Earlier this week, city council passed a motion that effectively killed the proposal for now.
The proposed bylaw change would have seen new drive-thru businesses, everything from fast food to car washes, prohibited in the city centre. However, existing drive-thrus would have been allowed to remain.
“It would be a symbolic gesture to reduce emissions with real consequences to business,” said chamber general manager Dan Proulx.
Proulx points out that the proposed drive-thru restrictions wouldn’t stop people from crowding the drive-thrus that are grandfathered in or using delivery services.
A city staff report included a variety of reasons staff was suggesting the new drive-thru prohibition including the city’s Climate Action Plan goal of promoting active transportation and transit.
“It is well known that transportation is the leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, and if the City is serious about acting on climate change, then plans and policies have to put active transportation and transit first,” the report said.
“Converting to EVs alone will not meet Vernon’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and…we are still many years away from the majority of vehicles in the city becoming electric.”