DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Residents who live near the site of a proposed Dutch Bros. Coffee at the intersection of Ogden and Saratoga Avenues in Downers Grove say traffic safety concerns are their chief issue in opposing the the development.
A petition entitled started on Change.org urges Downers Grove officials to deny the special use permit request for Dutch Bros. As of June 3, the petition had garnered 579 signatures.
The petition asserts that since the site for the double-lane drive-thru is close to two schools and located in an area "densely populated with traffic lights and pedestrian activities," it could cause "safety hazards for our children walking to and from school, as well as for pedestrians."
A resident who lives in the neighborhood where Dutch Bros. proposes to open told Patch, "Our opposition is rooted in the basic fundamentals of being directly near the school zone."
The resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said "placing a high-volume Dutch Bros drive-thru here creates a dangerous
'peak-on-peak' nightmare, where a massive rush of morning and afternoon commuters will overlap with school arrival and dismissal."
They added gridlocked traffic will force drivers to take alternative routes onto side streets.
"These roads are the primary walking routes for hundreds of middle and high school students, as well as the main entry points for school buses and parent drop-offs/pick ups. Forcing
young pedestrians and inexperienced teenage drivers to navigate impatient, rushed commuters who are hostilely cutting through school entry zones significantly increases the
risk of accidents," they told Patch.
According to the resident, other concerns involve how increased traffic will affect the nearby senior center and nearby businesses.
The resident told Patch they and other neighbors have emailed the Village of Downers Grove to communicate their concerns.
A proposal for a Dutch Bros. in Naperville was tabled in fall 2025 after resistance from residents.
Downers Grove will review the first reading of the special use permit request from Dutch Bros. on July 6.
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