Culver City Considers Permanent Drive-Thru Ban Following Concerns Raised by Morgan Schwartz and Mel Siverts

Culver City officials are weighing a permanent ban on new drive-thru restaurants after local residents voiced significant traffic and safety concerns regarding a proposed In-N-Out Burger site. The council is scheduled to debate extending a temporary moratorium, which aims to guide the city toward permanent legislation. Opponents argue that the development would negatively impact neighborhood stability. Resident Morgan Schwartz cited collision risks, noting that increased turning movements near El Rincon Elementary School pose dangers to children. Similarly, Mel Siverts, president of the Beverlywood West Homeowners Association, warned that a high-traffic fast-food establishment would worsen existing peak-hour congestion. The potential In-N-Out location, which would be the first new drive-thru in the city since 1997, features extensive parking and a two-lane drive-thru. Supporters of the ban, including Vice Mayor Bryan Fish, emphasized that public health and orderly traffic flow must remain the city's top priorities over commercial expansion. The decision centers on balancing local growth goals against the established residential character of the area.

Sources