City Council approval makes way for Dutch Bros Coffee in Richardson

A special permit approved by Richardson City Council will allow for a Dutch Bros Coffee shop in Richardson.

The approval, given unanimously at a meeting March 29, was needed for the drive-thru service used at Dutch Bros Coffee. The area had been previously zoned for commercial use.

Plans for the Dutch Bros Coffee include a 920-square-foot drive-thru only coffee shop along West Arapaho Road and West Shore Drive in Richardson. Council members also requested the inclusion of a bike rack, small seating area and patio covering large enough for the seating area.

Dutch Bros Coffee expects to open a number of sites this year in the North Texas area, including a location in neighboring Plano. The company is originally from Oregon and serves coffee, tea and energy drinks.

Planned drive-thru lanes at the Richardson site expect to accommodate up to 17 vehicles without affecting traffic flow on site or in the surrounding shopping center, according to staff documents. Workers at Dutch Bros Coffee would operate the lines similar to Chick-fil-A's operation, staff shared, with employees stationed outside to take orders.

The company has 180 days to obtain a building permit from the city in order to keep the special permit approved by council. The company can request an extension of the permit for up to a year.