There’s a lot of talk about making East Longmeadow more “business friendly,” and the need to encourage additional Economic Development.

Currently, East Longmeadow prohibits the use of Drive-thru windows for the exchange of “any consumable goods.”

There has long been a bias against Drive-thrus in town, based upon a desire to allow the town to keep its “small town” feel.  East Longmeadow and Longmeadow, are the only communities in the Greater Springfield Area that prohibit drive-thru windows.  Most other communities control their issuance through the Special Permit process. I would suggest that East Longmeadow do the same.  The Planning Board could establish a strict list of conditions allowing it to regulate their issuance.

Most order of conditions used by other  communities require:
• minimum lot size  
• hours of operations
• queuing lanes accommodate a    minimum number of vehicles.
• outdoor lighting
• security
• signage
• ongoing operations to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the  property.

We live in a mobile society today. Businesses know that the emphasis is all about customer convenience, and the ability to satisfy customer demand.  Businesses make decisions on where to locate, and where to invest based on their ability to maximize their rate of return.

A new Dunkin’ Donuts store costs a significant investment to build.  Once in operation, the average store employs 25 to 35 employees.  Your local franchisee would love to build a new state-of-the-art Dunkin’ Donuts in East Longmeadow, but is currently prohibited by Corporate Dunkin’ Donuts from building in any community that prohibits drive-thru windows.  

Dunkin Donuts does about 50 to 60 percent of its business in a 4 hour window, between 5:30 and 9:30 a.m., and 70 percent of their total business through their drive-thru windows.  People are accustomed to getting their morning coffee on their way to work. They oftentimes do so at the most convent place available. If the East Longmeadow Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot is full, as it often is, they just keep driving to the next Dunkin' Donuts. Unfortunately, that store may likely be in a neighboring community, and East Longmeadow loses out on the business and the local tax revenue.

I would suggest that the Planning Board amend their bylaws to allow drive-thrus by Special Permit.  Then attach a strict order of conditions to any Special Permit issued, allowing the town to control and regulate them.

This change would not only benefit Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and other food establishments, but would also be very welcomed by CVS & Walgreens. These pharmacies built brand new buildings in East Longmeadow but are prohibited from having drive-thru windows. Mothers with sick children, would rather use a drive-thru window to pick up a prescription, then to be forced to drag a sick child into the pharmacy.  

I believe the time has come for East Longmeadow to allow drive-thru windows to allow businesses to better serve their customers. We should not continue sacrificing economic development, jobs and tax revenue that is currently bypassing our town.

Paul E. Caron
Community Liaison for
Dunkin' Donuts &
President of
Paul E. Caron Associates
East Longmeadow