In-N-Out Burger to make another attempt at building Buellton location

Planning Commission reviews conceptual designs and renderings at April 2 meeting at different site from rejected 2023 proposal

After a failed attempt to establish a fast-food franchise on Buellton’s McMurray Road in 2023, In-N-Out Burger is making another attempt to open a location a little farther north than the original proposal, and on April 2 it took the first step.

Conceptual designs and renderings were reviewed by the Buellton Planning Commission during its April 2 meeting ahead of a potential formal proposal to the Planning Commission at a later date.

“The intention is to get initial feedback for the applicants’ site plan and renderings before project submittal,” said Buellton Associated Planner Cara Miralles in introducing the project.

The initial application, submitted by property owner Larry Lahr and In-N-Out Development Manager Brigid Williams proposes a fast-food restaurant to be built on the vacant lot just north of Rufus T. Buell Drive (formerly Damassa Road), between McMurray Road and Highway 101.

The location is farther north on McMurray Road than the proposed In-N-Out location in 2023 on the site of the former Parks Plaza Theatre. That one was narrowly passed by the Planning Commission despite traffic concerns, but appealed to the City Council, which sided with the appelant in December 2023, killing the project. The site is now a potential location for a Cottage Health medical facility, which was OK’d by the Planning Commission in February.

The new proposal would put a one-story 3,890-square-foot building, with 76 parking space, a 35-car queuing capacity in the drive-thru, as well as indoor (84 seats) and outdoor (24 seats) dining areas. Plans showed an entryway on McMurray opposite Thomas Road with a driveway taking customers to the parking lot and the drive-thru starting at the far end of the lot from the building. The restaurant itself would be at the south end of the lot, with the front facing north, and the back end, and drive-thru window facing Rufus T. Buell Drive.

Miralles said a formal application submittal would probably have to wait for a traffic study and coordination with Caltrans.

Williams was present at the meeting and spoke to the commission, pointing out that the site was already zoned General Commercial, meaning no zoning changes would be requested, and the proposal is meant to comply with city policies. She said the restaurant would be a great addition to the city.

“Bringing In-N-Out to the community means more than just opening a restaurant,” Williams said. “All our restaurants have contributed to economic vitality, job opportunities, and provided competitive wages. We would be able to further stimulate the local economy.”

Commissioner Daniel Contreras began the questioning and reviewed some questions he emailed to staff and had been answered. He had asked how the 35-car capacity compared to the restaurant at its peak business times and also was concerned about the possibility of traffic spillover onto McMurray Road. Miralles had answered back that those are questions that would be answered in the future traffic study.

Commissioner Brian Campbell asked if In-N-Out would ultimately become the owners of the two parcels that make up the potential site. Lahr, who identified himself as a trustee of the land, currently in the Buell family trust, said the restaurant chain would lease to buy.

Perhaps the biggest concern to everyone was the architectural style, agreeing that some modifications would have to be made to In-N-Out’s usual building design because that part of the city prefers the “contemporary ranch style” architecture prevalent in nearby buildings like Firestone Walker Brewery and the Hampton Inn.

Adam Firestone, who co-founded the Firestone Walker Brewery that sits across the street from the land sought by In-N-Out, reminded the planners that they had the responsibility to ensure they prevent any design elements that didn’t comply with the city’s accepted styles.

“The rural California look is important to the town,” said Firestone, the only speaker in Public Comment. “I think this will pass and the burden will fall on you five [the commission]. In-N-Out is successful with their looks and they have their brand standards. I encourage you to maintain our standards; do what you can to push back.”

One of the things Firestone noted of In-N-Out restaurants was “the lighting isn’t to our standards. It’s too bright. I don’t want that location to look like a truck stop.” Planning Director Andrea Keefer said later in reply that the city does have an outdoor lighting ordinance and it will be followed.

During Council Comments, Contreras reiterated the commission’s desire for the restaurant to maintain local design standard, and noted that In-N-Out locations in Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks were able to get theirs built within their local design standards.

I hope the In-N-Out design team takes note that they’re coming to specific case,” he said. “We’re a jewel in the Valley, we want to keep the character.”

Commissioner Marcelo Sarquilla gave praise to the restaurant’s proposed layout.

“When we considered the first In-N-Out item, I did research in Santa Barbara, the Turnpike location,” he said. “It’s laid out like this one, and traffic moves smoothly. I was for [the previous proposal] then, and I like the way you think it through. I’m still for your project.”