The junction of state routes 89A and 260 is among the busiest spots in Cottonwood, but the southwest corner of that bustling intersection lacks a business to take advantage of the traffic. On Sept. 10, the city of Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Commission heard and approved a request to build a Starbucks there.
“Starbucks wants visibility, and this is de nitely a high visibility corner,” said Jeff Koski, an architect for Archicon, which is designing the site, at last week’s hearing. He noted the odd shape of the land parcel, and said a Starbucks is the perfect choice for it. “It really lends itself to a small building footprint use on this site.”
P&Z Commissioner Judd Wasden suggested that the Starbucks be built with river rock to fit in with the look of other buildings in Cottonwood, an idea that the developer was happy to accede to.
“It just seems like that would be so much more fitting for our local community,” Wasden said.
The main concern of the P&Z Commission related to traffic at the intersection.
“I’m a Home Depot fan, and I have a hard time getting out of Home Depot,” Commissioner Susan Masters said. “There’s going to be more people, more cars, more traffic. How are they going to get out of there safely?”
Cottonwood Public Works Director Robert Wienecke defended the potential coffee shop’s effect on traffic, pointing to a study from the Arizona Department of Transportation.
“The peak times that you have your primary users coming through Starbucks don’t necessarily coincide with the peak times of the larger traffic at the intersection,” Wienecke said. He said the intersection is most congested in the afternoon, while people usually go to Starbucks in the morning.
The concerns about traffic were large enough to prevent a unanimous approval of the P&Z board. Commissioners Tom Narwid and Judd Wasden voted no, citing fears of congestion and uncertainty about how to deal with it as their main concerns. But with the remaining four commissioners voting yes, the plan for a new Starbucks moved forward.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
