Public Comment on Proposed In-N-Out Burger
305 registered statements
rj jackson outside City Boundary
Traffic in this small area is already horrific. I cannot imagine how much worse it will be with this popular food chain backing up traffic. It will cause more of a backup to highway 17 and all of the surrounding streets. This area cannot support such a busy drive thru restaurant - I think that is the key take away here - A BUSY DRIVE THRU = LOTS OF CARS - The traffic will be horrendous. Please do not approve.
(I am a Campbell resident although this states otherwise. Assume that is based on zip code alone. There are a few of us with an SJ zip code who actually reside in Campbell on S. Clover and Monica lane, etc.)
Barry Shilman inside City Boundary
This area intersection is as close to "fail" as any intersection in Campbell right now. In 'n Out serves hundreds of cars per day. This is not the right place for a high volume drive through as well as a sit-down restaurant.
And what will it say about Campbell? Welcome to the fast food and traffic capital of the west valley.
Martin Graham inside City Boundary
In&Out is a very popular business with a very lengthy drive-through line of vehicles and a large number of cars parked. Please monitor the location by the airport at busy times. This location in Campbell is small and at a busy corner, and will be swamped by this business, spilling over on to the streets and causing the already busy traffic to be a nightmare. Just say no.
Rachel Sumi inside City Boundary
An In n Out Burger at the old Elephant Bar site is a horrible idea. I drive this route every day, and the traffic coming at the intersection of Hamilton and Almarida, so close to the always-crowded 17 interchange is heavy. This is an intersection that already causes confusion between Home Depot and Kohl's (despite the new brightly lit sign -- thank you, City of Campbell!) Anyone familiar with In N Out Traffic can only imagine the nightmare this will cause at all hours of the day and night. Locating this business at the old Elephant Bar will make it impossible to get "in n out" of our neighborhood. We don't need another hamburger joint -- please find another family-friendly tenant for this corner!
Josh Guzman outside City Boundary
I think an In N Out in campbell is great for the city and future employees. The company is a class act that cares for their neighborhood and employees. They have strong and reliable reputation of success. The traffic arguement is weak. It's inevitable in the bay area. Without or without In N Out, traffic is only going to get worse. It's selfish to dismiss growth in a popular city like campbell. That's why most of us have moved here.
Debi West inside City Boundary
I love In-n-Out just as much as the next person, however, this is a horrible location for it! The traffic off 17 onto Hamilton between 4-6:30pm is terrible as it is. Our employees use that exit every day, and at times have waited 20+ minutes to exit with the current traffic. Throw an In-n-Out into that, and we are talking about a wait of perhaps double that! That's going into overtime pay for business owners in that area! Not to mention that the drive thru line would most likely spill out to the street making it very difficult for consumers to visit the BBB/Kohls center. I say put El Burro, that was just kicked out of the Pruneyard, here instead!!
Chris Bracher inside City Boundary
I am in support of an In-N-Out restaurant coming to Campbell. I have no affiliation with the company, but I am a fan of their food and their company ethics.
The in-N-Out company is known as a high quality employer across several states and as one that makes it a point to pay its employees ABOVE minimum wage.
It is also a California based company that prides itself on the quality of its suppliers as well as its involvement in the communities that it is a part of.
The development of this project at the intersection at Hamilton and Almarida Ave. also provides the City with the opportunity to redesign the traffic flow as well as to upgrade the signal timing equipment via fees charged to the developer for the new construction.
With the recent loss of the Steak'n'Shake restaurant in the downtown area, its hard to make the claim that Campbell is becoming over "burger-fied". In fact, the concerns over the drastic increase in traffic and congestion proved to be unfounded.
I also say this remembering that the Johnny Rockets diner at the Pruneyard was replaced by a pizza restaurant and there were no protests against it or the other pizza restaurants have been added to Campbell since then.
The location on Hamilton for a restaurant of In-N-Out's type is perfect for the kind of traffic flow that the area already experiences. This restaurant chain also has ample experience with designing their locations to maximize customer flow. If anyone can design a location to minimize the traffic impact to the area, its this company.
And, with any luck, people coming from Hwy-17 or San Thomas Expressway to visit the In-N-Out will see OTHER Campbell businesses to stop at and spend money.
K M inside City Boundary
Like others I was initially concerned about traffic, however, in thinking about all the other In-n-Out locations I've been to, the planning for the drive thru line has been well thought out and dealt with, as I assume Campbell and In-n-Out will do in this instance as well. The block of land is quite large and will allow ample room for cars to wrap around and queue as well as for parking. I think the initial response to anything new is usually "No! It will cause problems" when in reality, it rarely turns out to be the case. I would welcome In-n-Out to our community!
George Haskin inside City Boundary
Whether In-and-Out is liked (or not), another burger place (or not), etc. IS NOT the question the City should really be concerned about since they are a legally operated business like any others that may apply. Assuming the City will receive revenue from any legally operated business, the only real question needing review is simply, "Does an In-and-Out Franchise located at the former Elephant Bar location create any adverse situations for the City of Campbell or its current residents?" Given that issue and as a resident of the Hamman Park neighborhood I must point out the following:
1) The Almarida/Hamilton intersection is located just 100 yards or so from a major freeway exit to westbound Hamilton traffic.
2) Westbound Hamilton traffic is currently impeded by traffic exiting the freeway attempting to cross three lanes of traffic to enter the turning lane into Home Depot at time backing up traffic onto the freeway.
3) Eastbound Hamilton traffic is often backed up by traffic attempting to enter traffic lanes designated freeway entrances to north and southbound highway 880/17. In addition it is impeded by traffic from Staples, the Shell station and Frys.
4) Currently, all exiting traffic from Kohls, Bed Bath & Beyond, Panerras and the remaining smaller retailers is funneled into 3 short turning lanes on Southbound Almarida. Although controlled by signal, Southbound Almarida is often impeded by cross traffic on East and West bound Hamilton traffic that can not clear from the traffic signals controlling freeway exiting/entrance traffic.
5) Locating ANY business at the Elephant Bar site that generates high traffic count, such as one with a drive thru window, would add to existing traffic congestion problems experienced by current neighborhood residents and others using Hamilton and immediate traffic arteries. The compounded traffic count would be especially prevelent during noontime, evening commutes and most all day long on weekends if the consider business or one like it is approved.
With current traffic counts concentrated at or adjacent to the intersection in question, the City might find itself negligent if they played a part in allowing unsafe conditions to be created by concentrating additional traffic without completion of consecutive major roadway improvements. Therefore, I'd like the city to deny this application.
This is a great idea. Elephant Bar failed because no one went there, and a similar type of restaurant would have similar results (people probably just didn't want to deal with the traffic). In-n-out will not have problems getting customers regardless of location.
I live on Hamilton north of this location and I can't see an In-n-out making the congestion significantly worse than it already is (i.e. SUPER bad), so why not. The city could help things by making the lights at Almardia, Central, and HW 17 work together more effectively. I know that type of thing is costly, but it would make a huge difference.