Public Comment on Proposed In-N-Out Burger

I am a "YES" vote for In-N-Out in Campbell. I do not think there is any validity to the great "In-N-Out panic of 2017". Understanding the Hamann Park area as well as I do, having grown up on Almarida Dr. (1014), I can appreciate the worries about traffic in reference to the proposed In-N-Out, as it will have an impact as the road layout currently exists. SUGGESTION? One very practical solution would be to make this simple change in traffic flow by ending Almarida Northbound from Hamilton at the circular at David Ave. No through road, no negative traffic impact to the Hamann Park neighborhood and considerably less safety issues. This intersection (Hamilton/Almarida) was very dangerous growing up as it had no signal light. As such, most everyone went out Central Ave. to Hamilton, or out Payne Ave. to Winchester. Doing this would essentially turn that southern most part of Almarida Dr. (the part that runs from Hamilton to David Ave.) into a commercial through way for the businesses and the southeast side of the Franciscan apartments. Overall, a very logical solution holding enhanced safety features that could likely improve property values at the southeast end of the Hamann Park neighborhood. Having the knowledge of the old Mercury News paper routes throughout Hamann Park as a kid, I can assure you there are no shortage of alternative ingress/egress solutions for the neighborhood with ~16 alternative routes. Additionally, as a 50 year resident of Campbell, and currently semi-retired, I drive through the area intersections many, many times a week at various hours so I am very familiar with the traffic flow. Will there be an impact? 'Yes', absolutely. Will it be a continual 'Burger Apocalypse 24/7 gridlock traffic jam'? NO. Based on the information I have read which was available here on the city website, it appears to me that the proposed occupant has a good plan for customer flow. This is clearly not their first rodeo, nor their first attempt at placing a restaurant near a busy intersection. Though In-N-Out overall seems to be highly desired from the people I have discussed this with, apparently, at least here in Campbell, there is a lot of opposition (NIMBY...) in general to these types of restaurants lately. First it was "The Habit Burger" in my current neighborhood of Pruneyard/Dry Creek. It was said at the time that it was proposed, that "The Habit Burger" restaurant would ruin the Campbell Ave./Bascom Ave. traffic flow and cause untold distress to the surrounding neighborhoods (didn't happen folks...). It was insinuated at the time that the City of Campbell wasn't doing their job on researching the potential problems with traffic, etc.
Well, apparently the City of Campbell planning Dept. did do their due diligence and the result is another dining option not previously available with few, if any repercussions. Then, it was (and still is) the lobby to stop 'Steak N Shake' going in on Campbell Ave. Now it is In-N-Out. Enough already. Admittedly, humans don't 'do' change well, and that is a scientific fact. But really, citizens that dwell near major thoroughfares need to accept that Campbell is changing. Traffic overall is increasing. The demographic is evolving due to the demands of this area such that everyone here feels they have less time. Naturally the tastes and desires of the majority of Campbell and SW SJ working residents are skewing toward the desire for an enhanced variety of the 'quicker food service' establishments such as In-N-Out, The Habit Burger and Steak N Shake. I will also share that I was born in LA and have watched the measured, planned, build-out of this exemplary run "Family Owned" business called In-N-Out as it slowly expanded northward. Very seldom do you find one even a 1/4 mile off a major interchange. This fact is driven by a purpose - being located right at the intersection of the highway has proven to be the best possible place to service their customers for all concerned. A lot of Campbell citizens want an In-N-Out here. In-N-Out wants to come to Campbell. Knowing "someone, somewhere" will be impacted by an In-N-Out located in Campbell, no matter where it goes, the question is this: Where else is there an available location, Inside a 1/4 of a mile of the only "major interchange" in Campbell, which is centrally convenient, that is able to service the maximum number of citizens in Campbell and southwestern SJ like this one? I.E., a location that jointly meets the needs of the greater community overall and also meets the business location guidelines and customer service goals of this very popular, fairly healthy (all things 'fast-food' concerned...) enterprise?

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!

I want In N Out in Campbell more than any other restaurant chain I can imagine and am sending double double my prayers. Not only do I love the taste, the food is very fresh and healthier than the other fast food options. I find myself eating fast food more often than not with my constricted time, and I would love nothing more than to be able to get a protein style burger on my way home. I do not care about the slight increase in traffic, the Bay Area is already extremely crowded. Not to mention how miserable the freeways become during peak traffic hours. A minuscule wait of 10 minutes for food is absolutely nothing compared to my commute home.

I loved Elephant Bar, and would prefer a nice sit down restaurant like BJs or something instead of In-N-Out, but I want to comment on the traffic concerns.

As a resident of Monica Ln located in the neighborhood behind this corner, I was a vocal opponent of the Kohl's/Bed Bath and Beyond/Panera development at the City Council meeting when it was being considered to replace Breuners. I was concerned about increased traffic. Turned out my concerns were unfounded, and in the ultimate irony, we became regular customers of these new businesses and love the convenience. Figures, right?

Based on the Kohl's experience, and some unscientific vehicle counts, I'm thinking In-N-Out would have the same nominal impact.

My family enjoys In-N-Out, and so I've counted cars in recent visits to both the Mountain View and Coleman Ave locations. My visits are during the evening dinner hour, not lunch. At it's worst, the Coleman Ave location typically has between 15 and 20 cars waiting in the drive thru line. In Mountain View, the line spills on to the street after about 15 cars, and I haven't personally seen it get that far in my visits there.

Based on the Campbell plan, it can accommodate 22 cars in the drive thru line before it even spills into the parking area, after which it appears 3 more cars could fit before spilling on to Hamilton Ave. Given the surrounding In-N-Out locations, I can't imagine the Campbell location exceeding the number of vehicles of these other locations, since those had people like me having to drive to their location.

So while I'd prefer a different restaurant choice, I don't know that the reason to say "no" to In-N-Out is worsening traffic.

Growing up in SO. CA, and at the original in n out, I LOVE, LOVE LOVE, them coming to Campbell. My view, yes.

I think it would great for the city of Campbell! It's in a perfect location, right off the freeway exit, in a part of town that could use a proven successful business. I'm sure Campbell would love having a restaurant that doesn't shut down every 2 years, and that takes care of their employees.
I understand the traffic gripe. Nobody likes traffic. These days, there is no getting around it in the bay area, especially during rush hour. I live two blocks from this intersection. The only traffic here is during rush hour. Look at all of the other In N Out locations.. All in high traffic areas. It works. People will find an excuse to complain about anything, especially if it has to deal with crowds. Again, it's the bay, get over it. You could put a taco truck there, and people will still be up in arms blaming it on traffic. It's not like they want to put a Costco or Wal-Mart there. It's a delicious fast food joint. If you can't be patient for those extra 30 cars at any given moment, because you are impatient and selfish, then I suggest you never eat there once it's built!
Something is going to be built there. Why not have it something that's a guaranteed success.

I believe this would be a great addition to the neighborhood and fully support it.

I am in support of In and Out going in at the old Elephant Bar location. I am in the real estate business and transacting on several QSRs each year you get use to seeing great, good and poor locations. This fits in the great category. Not only is the property located near the freeway and in a retail corridor the parcel, if designed correctly will allow a very smooth traffic flow. The parcel (which is over sized for typical IAO locations) will allow stack up and ingress/egress on site vs. on the street. Even if there is an issue during the soft and hard opening any problems won't last.
Let's not forget this is where we as local citizens want traffic. Dead on a heavily traffic retail corridor near good access to other faster surface roads such as HWY 17 and Bascom Ave. Which will keep the cars off of the local residential streets.
Everyone I talk to in my business support the location and agree the location makes total sense.
It will also help our schools and local tax revenues.

A successful resaurant is looking to replace a failed one, great! Yes, I am familar with the problems of locating an In-N-Out in too small a location, look at the location in Mountain View on El Camino. Proposed site is much larger than even the Airport location.

I am not an expert on traffic flow, I have confidence in the people that are, City's Planning Department who will conduct a thorough review of the proposed restaurant, including analyzing potential traffic, parking, circulation, public safety, noise, lighting, odor, and air quality impacts. Let us wait for the study to be completed before rejecting it out of traffic fears.

In-N-Out pays their workers above minimum wage, and should be a welcome edition to Campbell.

I'm very much in favor of this. It's no secret that In-N-Out will bring a solid amount of tax dollars to a community due to it's popularity. The area's already zoned for commercial, and it makes a lot of sense to let that location bring revenue back in to the community, rather than sitting vacant and unused.

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.