Napa Valley goes to war with fast food — and locals are furious

California’s famed wine country is coming for the drive-thru.

Napa officials are weighing restrictions on new and expanded drive-thrus in a green push to curb car dependency and planet-warming emissions, but some locals fear the plan will simply trade idling cars for packed restaurants and more traffic headaches.

The Napa Planning Commission recently directed city staff to move forward with the restrictions, according to CBS — potentially putting the brakes on future drive-thrus across the city.

The crackdown wouldn’t just hit fast-food joints.

Restaurants, retail stores, banks, pharmacies and even car washes could all be affected by the proposed restrictions, although existing drive-thrus, including Napa’s In-N-Out and McDonald’s, would be spared.

City officials argue drive-thru developments encourage car dependency and leave motorists sitting in long lines with engines idling, pumping out unnecessary emissions.

Not everyone is buying it.

“It’s kind of a little asinine; it’s just going to cause more traffic inside of restaurants,” resident Anthony Pecello told CBS News.

Others are ready to ditch the drive-thru.

“I’m for it because everyone can go inside and spend time together and save the environment,” resident Rachel Bell said.

University of California, Davis environmental professor Chris Cappa said all that time spent sitting behind the wheel waiting for a burger or coffee can have a bigger environmental impact than drivers might assume.

“The emissions during idling are about half or a quarter during the same amount while driving. So, it really is more than you might think,” Cappa told the outlet.

The city is also grappling with accessibility concerns for customers who may have difficulty going inside businesses.

Under the current draft, businesses would still be able to offer curbside pickup and designated pickup spaces, a city official told the outlet.

The proposal is still in its early stages and Napa’s Planning Commission does not have the final word. That decision will ultimately fall to the Napa City Council.

But Napa is hardly alone in California’s growing war on the drive-thru.

Down in Culver City, the burger battle has already turned nasty.

City leaders recently voted 4–0 to extend an emergency moratorium on new drive-thru restaurants for another 10 months and 15 days after residents revolted against plans for a new In-N-Out Burger.

Opponents warned it would unleash more traffic, idling cars, dirty air and pedestrian safety problems on the surrounding neighborhood.

In-N-Out had argued its restaurant would instead bring well-paying jobs and additional sales tax revenue while giving police officers, healthcare workers and other overnight employees another place to grab food late at night.

But residents largely revolted against the plan.

The backlash even flipped Councilmember Albert Vera — who acknowledged he had initially welcomed the prospect of an In-N-Out coming to the neighborhood.

“I didn’t really see an issue with having an In-N-Out,” Vera said before explaining that months of opposition from residents changed his mind.

“I think I have an obligation to the community,” he added. “Sometimes it’s not a bad idea to change your mind, to listen to the community.”

Culver City officials are now considering going even further with a permanent ban on new drive-thrus, while existing locations would be allowed to stay.

Other California cities have already put the brakes on new drive-thrus.

Santa Barbara and South Pasadena have prohibited new drive-thrus for decades, while Long Beach has restrictions governing where they can operate.

Now Napa could be next to join the rebellion.

Its existing drive-thrus aren’t going anywhere, meaning locals can still roll up for a burger without leaving their cars.

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