Josh Petray/Staff Writer | Posted: Saturday, December 9, 2006 12:00 am
A drainage basin at the Arroyo Town and County Square may soon be filled and transformed into the South County/s first Applebee/s restaurant.
Final plans must be approved by Arroyo Grande/s Architectural Review Committee for the East Grand Avenue Applebee/s to be constructed.
The Arroyo Grande Planning Commission unanimously approved plans for the proposed project in what is commonly known as the “Spencer/s CenterC at 1400 E. Grand Ave., home to Spencer/s Fresh Market and the Wednesday morning Arroyo Grande Farmers Market.
The basin on the project site is currently used to capture surface runoff from surrounding developments, according to a city staff report.
To replace the holding capacity that would be lost through filling in the basin, the city expanded the newly-improved “Poplar basinC located behind the Panda Express/Longs Drugs development across the street, according to Community Development Director Rob Strong.
As proposed, the 6,344-square-foot stucco restaurant will include restrooms, a pedestrian walkway, food preparation facilities, enclosed trash and storage, red LED border lighting and landscaping and will seat 204 customers.
The location of the driveway and relocation of a monument sign resulted from the cooperation of and negotiations with nearby property owners, Strong said.
“It took a lot of work amongst property owners at the center,C he said.
Results of a traffic impact study completed in March 2006 “show marginal impact resulting from the proposed project on the local traffic network,C a city staff report states.
Fifty-one parking spaces are provided where 32 are required; the lot will not be overparked and will function as shared parking for the entire center, according to Planner Jim Bergman.
Issues raised by commissioners included odor, pedestrian safety, preservation of or mitigation of the loss of three sycamore trees on the site and encapsulation of the lighting.
At the end of the meeting, Chair Chuck Fellows asked project applicant T.J. Fitzpatrick if he could say how many Applebee/s restaurants have been constructed.
Fitzpatrick responded, “In the entire system, a little over 1,900.C
“All we need is to reassure folks that their concerns have been addressed many times before,C Fellows said.
Final architectural plans and landscape plans will be reviewed by the Architectural Review Committee prior to issuance of a building permit.
An exterior lighting plan also must be submitted to the Police Department for approval, according to a city staff report.
The project will not require City Council approval, according to City Manager Steve Adams.
Dec. 9, 2006