New Starbucks with drive-thru approved

By Lisa Brody

The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a site plan and special land use to build a new Starbucks with a drive-thru at the CVS shopping center on Woodward at the southeast corner of Square Lake Road, at their meeting on Monday April 12.

Andrea Bibby, deputy director of planning, building and ordinance, explained Starbucks was looking to construct a standalone Starbucks at 42934 Woodward Avenue in front of the CVS shopping center. They would demolish 4,024 square feet of the existing shopping center and construct a 2,289 square foot standalone Starbucks specialty beverage building with a drive-thru operation located along the Woodward Avenue frontage.

Hours of the proposed Starbucks are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The township does not permit operations before 7 a.m., necessitating the special land use provision.

A curb cut at the front of the shopping center was endorsed by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Bibby said.

The incorporated drive-thru lane would allow nine vehicles to stack up, she said. New lights and plantings would be added, and they will be restriping and redoing the entire parking lot, Bibby said.

“To have to drive around the parking lot (to get out to Square Lake Road), I don't know, something seems less than ideal. I'm seeing problems,” said trustee Michael Schostak.

However, he voted to approve along with the rest of the board.