Milton Dunkin Donuts plans will require variance
Members of the Milton Planning and Zoning Commission came to their Aug. 19 meeting expecting to approve final site plans for a proposed Dunkin Donuts franchise off Route 16, but instead learned that it will require variances related to the drive aisles.
Brock Parker, engineer for Dunkin, told the commission the franchise has most of its state and local agency approvals required for final approval, but there was some question about the distance from the service window to the exit. Town code requires at least 60 feet between a fast-food drive-thru service window and either a public right-of-way or interior drive aisles. Parker said Dunkin plans to seek a variance from those requirements because the exit from the service window does not go to any interior drive aisles, but to the exit onto Route 16.
“We’re at the end of the line,” Parker said.
The earliest Dunkin could appear before the Milton Board of Adjustment is Tuesday, Sept. 23, its next scheduled meeting date.
Dunkin is proposing a 2,860-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru on a commercial lot in front of the Cypress Grove development on Route 16. The lot was partitioned by town council in November. Dunkin would have 38 parking spaces and would be accessed from Route 16, with motorists turning onto Grove Circle, which services the interior lots of the development.
During the site-plan review process, the commission sought a lighter color for the Dunkin building to better fit in with the style of commercial buildings in Milton; a similar request was made of the recently opened McDonald’s at the corner of Route 16 and Union Street Extended. Dunkin adhered to that request.
The Cypress Grove parcel was annexed into Milton in December 2020. Plans for the 26-acre parcel called for 240 residential units on 21 acres in an R-2 residential zoning district, and 5 acres of commercial space fronting Route 16. The commercial space has been divided up into four lots, with the western parcels to comprise Dunkin and Dairy Queen. The eastern parcel is planned for a dentist's office and a future commercial business.
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
