Dunkin’ Go with drive-thru-only lanes proposed for corner of Route 59 and Diehl Road in Naperville

A new concept Dunkin’ Go store proposed for Naperville — open to drive-thru-only customers — is headed to the Naperville City Council for approval.

It will be a tight fit for the 1.75-acre site at 1671 N. Route 59 at Diehl Road but variances that will allow the project to work won the blessing Wednesday night of the Naperville Planning and Commission, which recommended the council sign off on the project.

“This is probably one of the smallest commercial lots that the city has in this corridor,” project architect Hemal Purohit said.

The two-story store will have no indoor ordering or dining but will have a two drive-thru lanes to accommodate live orders and mobile app pickups, according to plans submitted to the city. Beyond the interior employee work area, there will space inside for the owner’s office and to do employee training.

Prakash Patel said the new Dunkin’ would be his third in Naperville. The other two are traditional stores also on Route 59, and “both are doing extremely well,” he said.

“We are very happy having Dunkin’ Donuts in Naperville, and we would like to add this third one to cater the southbound traffic and the Diehl Road traffic going eastbound,” he said.

Among the variances being sought are request to reduce the number of required parking spots from 11 to 10, a decrease in the signage setback along Route 59 from 10 feet to 7 feet, and permission to allow parking to encroach up to 15 feet into the required 20-foot major arterial setback.

The business’ sign would include the word “Naperville” because “this is almost like an entry point to the city,” Purohit said.

If approved, landscaping would include 16 trees and more than 100 shrubs, plans said.

Commissioner Manas Athanikar was enthusiastic about the proposal.

“This development is a great development,” Athanikar said. “I commend the petitioner for working with staff on the signage, and clearly that was a great effort in continuing with the city’s beautification efforts on the gateways into Naperville.”

The city council will review the requests at a future meeting.

Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.