Coffee shop looking to expand its business area

LYNN – Additional parking and a second drive-through window are in the works for a well-trafficked Dunkin Donuts at 577 Walnut St.The coffee spot has been blamed for daily traffic backups and heavy congestion from customers craving coffee and donuts, leaving abutters and travelers frustrated.Attorney Richard Cuffe, who is representing the management company, Jaton Management LLC, said the changes are designed to alleviate the overcrowding.”We want to expand the parking area and in order to do so, we need to amend a portion of the zoning map and are proposing to increase the size of the business district,” he said. “This is a matter of concern for some city councilors and residents.”Currently, the store has roughly five parking spaces available on site, and after the expansion, close to 22 spots will be open for customers.Cuffe said customers tend to clog the drive-thru and spill out onto the street so, in order to alleviate the problem, the management company purchased a dwelling to the left of the store and a parcel of land behind the store (which contains a house and shed) to increase the space.”The existing drive-thru would be expanded by the house to the left and behind the store to make more room for cars and to speed up the process of obtaining coffee or donuts,” he said.Ward 7 City Councilor Richard Ford said he spoke to nearby residents and didn’t receive opposition to the project.”The place of business is very popular and I support the project 100 percent,” he said.Cuffe said the expansion has to be approved first and go through the proper motions before the existing homes could be demolished and the project could take shape.A public hearing on the matter will be set down for the next City Council meeting on Feb. 26.