Traffic concerns spell ‘animal-style trouble’ for In-N-Out’s Boise-area expansion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Meridian City Council denied In-N-Out's drive-thru proposal over traffic concerns.
- In-N-Out's appeal included reduced hours and new queuing data, but failed to sway vote.
- Residents cited proximity to homes and increased vehicle trips as major objections.
In-N-Out got a second chance to build its fourth Treasure Valley fast-food joint — then lost it.
The California burger chain appears to have reached the end of its quest for a proposed drive-thru restaurant on busy Ten Mile Road, after the Meridian City Council denied its request for a conditional-use permit for the drive-thru on Tuesday evening. The decision upheld a previous denial by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission over traffic concerns raised by city officials and in more than 300 public comments.
At the public hearing Tuesday, In-N-Out doubled down on its position that the drive-thru planned for the southwest corner of Ten Mile and Chinden Boulevard, near Costco, would not negatively affect surrounding roads. The chain agreed to reduce its hours of operation and to limit delivery hours, according to a letter appealing the planning commission’s April denial.
But after hours of public testimony, the City Council determined that — unlike cars at the would-be drive-thru — the proposal didn’t stack up.
“I just can’t get there,” Council Member Brian Whitlock said before making a motion to deny the request. “I struggle with some of the same things that our Planning and Zoning Commission did, and my concerns have not been fully addressed tonight.”
Whitlock said the site, though roughly double the size of other In-N-Out sites in the Valley, could not accommodate the level of demand he anticipates for the “hugely successful” restaurant.
“At the end of the day, it’s trying really, really hard to fit a very successful square peg in a very round part of our community, and I just don’t think it’s the right location,” Council President Luke Cavener added.
Despite In-N-Out study, neighbors raise concerns over traffic
Representing In-N-Out, Cassie Ruiz, a senior development manager for the chain, argued that the proposal met all requirements for a conditional-use permit and that updated analysis of a 2018 traffic study indicated no excessive burden on nearby roads. While the chain’s appeal included some modifications, such as a revised landscaping plan to help with light concerns, changes to traffic plans for the site were not offered.
Ruiz said the drive-thru on the 2.2-acre site can accommodate 31 cars at a time, with room for 19 more to stack within the parking lot, according to the proposed site plan. According to a queuing analysis conducted in May by California consulting firm Ganddini Group, the Ten Mile In-N-Out is anticipated to have an average queue of 27 cars. It’s anticipated to generate 2,400 daily vehicle trips, a representative from Ganddani Group said at the hearing.
Neighbors took issue with In-N-Out’s findings. They expressed concern about traffic on an adjacent private road, Lost Rapids Drive, which serves the more than 500-home Bainbridge subdivision, as well as on increasingly congested Ten Mile.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about cars and kids,” said Steve Elliott, representing Bainbridge’s homeowners association, who noted that the proposed In-N-Out is much closer to a residential area — only 40 feet away — than is typical for the chain. “To me, it kind of begs the question, is this an experiment by In-N-Out? Are we the residential case study?”
“Let’s cancel this order for double-double animal-style trouble,” said Brick Oliver, representing the homeowners association for the Cadence at Bainbridge, the development’s 55 and over subdivision.
A handful of residents supported the In-N-Out, including one Bainbridge resident, Conrad Brinker, who said he was satisfied with In-N-Out’s data. “I’m a YIMBY,” he said. “Yes in my backyard.”
Council rejects drive-thru proposal; next steps unclear
The City Council ultimately voted 5-1 to deny the appeal, with lone opposition from Council Member Doug Taylor.
It’s unclear if In-N-Out will take any further action. The Statesman attempted to reach Ruiz by email Wednesday but did not immediately receive a response.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 4:00 AM.
