Restaurant Owners Oppose Proposed Drive-Up ATM

The Palm Desert Planning Commission denied a proposed drive-up ATM at a Chase Bank in Palm Desert, siding with restaurant owners who spoke out against the project.

In a 5-0 vote, commissioners shot down the remote ATM, citing safety concerns and the lack of cooperation from tenants in the Desert Springs Marketplace shopping center.

The , which has proposed a location at 74884 Country Club Drive, near Cook Street, in Palm Desert, applied for a conditional use permit to revise its design to install the drive-up ATM.

Joe Robbins of Chase Bank said the bank would be the only full-service Chase Bank in the area, and that letters outlining the plan were sent out to business owners in the shopping center explaining the design. 

During the presentation, Joseph Edwards, of Chase Bank, said he had letters showing the support of businesses in the center.

Ray Rodriguez, owner of the Cork Tree Restaurant in Palm Desert, said he "vigorously" opposes the drive-through ATM, and that the letter was unclear.

"You are asking for a disaster if you approve this," Rodriguez said, adding that the location is between five busy restaurants.

Stuart Davis, owner of City Wok, said he opposes losing 12 parking spaces.

"If they take up 12-13 spots, I don't see where we are going to recoup," Davis said.

He added that safety is his main concern.

"We have an elderly person injure themselves someone shape or form probably on a weekly basis, by no fault of their own. It will certainly create more drama that nobody wants," Davis said.

He said that he believed the letter sent out to business owners was vague, and that he does not approve of the project.

"I really didn’t think that they were going to plant it in the middle of the parking lot," Davis said.

Commissioner Connor Limont said she opposes the drive-up ATM because of safety concerns for pedestrians and fairness to other tenants.

"This is just one of those situations where folks are going to have to get out of their car," Limont said.

Commissioners Van Tanner, Roger Dash and Nancy DeLuna all opposed the project.

"I just can't get past the fact that tenants around it just don't support it," DeLuna said.

Commisioner Sonia Campbell, who said she originally supported the design, said she changed her mind because of the opposition.