BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Starbucks on Central Avenue will eventually be moving to the location of the former McDonalds at 1247 Trinity Drive. The Los Alamos County Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved a site plan Wednesday evening for the project.

Project Manager Ryan Hebert, representing the developer Steve Maestas of Maestas Development Group, said the existing building on Trinity will be demolished and a new building will be constructed.

The property has been vacant since 2016. In 2019, the Commission approved a request for a drive-through restaurant which was expected to be a Wendy’s, however the applicant did not commence the use as approved with 18 months and the approval became void under the terms of the County’s Development Code.

Commissioner Jean Dewart said the prospect of another drive-through on Trinity Drive made her sad looking 20 years down the pike. Commissioner Michelle Griffin agreed with Dewart and said she was disappointed that there would be another vacant spot downtown and was a little bit worried about it.

Commissioner Neal Martin if the Commission was reviewing the vacating of the down location, he would definitely vote against it and that he was sad to see the Starbucks on Central Avenue go.

No timeline was given for completion of the project.