Starlite Drive-In owner seeks zoning change for theater land. Theater's future unclear.
No one is talking, but changes are underway at the Starlite Drive-In.
The theater’s owner, Chuck Bucinski, filed an application last week to change the zoning of his drive-in’s land at 3900 S. Hydraulic Ave.
The reason listed on the application: “To permit a greater number of industrial and commercial uses.”
It's unclear what this means for the future of the drive-in. Bucinski did not respond to multiple calls and messages seeking comment.
The land there is currently split between “limited industrial” and “general commercial” zoning, both of which allow for drive-in theaters.
The proposed change would expand the “limited industrial” section to include essentially all of the drive-in's current facilities.
The application for the zoning change itself cost $2,245.
So why the zoning change?
A representative for Baughman Co., a land development company listed as the agent for the zoning application, referred all calls to Bucinski.
Currently, the land can be used only as a drive-in theater. The change would allow the land to be used for a number of other uses, including convenience stores, restaurants, office space and retail.
The city would not allow a nightclub, tavern/drinking establishment, correctional facility or adult entertainment business to locate there, according to the application.
The drive-in movie theater industry (and theaters in general) is in a state of flux now in the age of Netflix.
In the late 1950s, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theaters across the country.
Wichita itself had as many as nine drive-in theaters in the day, according to CinemaTreasures.org.
Since then, drive-in theaters have been closing around the country, faced with rising costs and a pricy switch to all-digital projection. By 2016, the number of drive-ins nationwide had dropped to about 330, according to DriveInMovie.com.
The Starlite Drive-In successfully upgraded to digital projectors in 2013 — at a cost of nearly $100,000 per screen — after an extensive community fundraising campaign.
The theater has two screens and room for 1,300 cars — 800 on one side and 500 on the other.
Its longtime owner and manager both died in 2015, and Bucinski bought the theater from owner Jim Goble’s estate with a $146,983.91 mortgage, according to county filings.
The Starlite Drive-In is next to the Arkansas River and is surrounded by the city’s Chapin Park to the north and mobile homes to the east.
A public hearing to consider the zoning request has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 12 at the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, 271 W. Third.
This story was originally published June 26, 2018 at 5:50 AM with the headline "Starlite Drive-In owner seeks zoning change for theater land. Theater's future unclear.."