Residents Disagree on Dunkin’ Donuts Drive-Thru at Train Station

When the Lake Forest Historic Preservation Commission recently gave a proposed Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru the thumbs down, Patch readers weighed in to both support and opposed the commission’s decision.

“Thank you Historic Preservation Commission. Having a drive-through at this location would not only compromise this historic building, but would be a traffic/safety disaster. Isn't there a Dunkin Donuts at Evanston's Davis Street--with NO drive-up?” Rosemary wrote.

Elizabeth Miller feels the opposite way, writing: “This was a bank drive thru for years. How does a coffee and doughnuts drive through suddenly become inappropriate? Good thing Plan Commission and City Council can and do disagree and overrule Historic preservation. We'd all be under gaslights with no commerce in town at all and lots of crumbling buildings.”

The commissioners said that while they like the idea of a Dunkin’ Donuts in the vacant spot in the East Lake Forest Train Station, the drive-thru is the sticking point, according to an article in the Lake Forester. The store’s applicant has said the drive-thru is necessary in order to operate in that spot.

The Plan Commission will take up the issue next month.

What do you think? Would you like to see Dunkin’ Donuts open with a drive-thru window in the train station? Only if there’s no drive-thru? Or not at all?