Taco Bell drive-thru not dead

City Council members call up conditional-use permit for eatery

Mentor officials are taking another look at a permit that would allow Taco Bell a drive-thru restaurant on Diamond Centre Drive.

City Council on Aug. 15 will consider the request for a conditional-use permit that the Planning Commission twice denied the fast food chain at 9490 Diamond Centre, behind McDonald’s.

The CUP last was turned down July 6 by a 3-2 vote despite measures by the eatery’s representatives to improve traffic flow out of Trask Towers shopping center.

The representatives agreed to create a split right-in, right-out westerly access drive — now unrestricted — to encourage

motorists to exit at the eastern signalized drive at Emerald Court. In addition, a traffic study was conducted and indicated that the traffic increase would be minor and the signal’s function undiminished.

Pedestrian safety in the plaza was among the chief concerns.

However, Ward 1 Councilman Sean Blake and Councilman at large Ray Kirchner — both former Planning Commission members — requested a public hearing on the permit.

“I fully support the decision of the Planning Commission,” Kirchner said. “However, I wanted to give our engineering department and the applicant one more opportunity to find a solution that is doable.”

Blake said he talked with the administration about another avenue.

“A better idea for traffic management on that site was developed after the Planning Commission denial,” he said.

“That is why I want a second look. I spent years on the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, and realize sometimes a better idea comes after a decision has been made.”

He noted the traffic study’s conclusion and that Taco Bell is permitted by zoning to construct a building at that location. The site plan remains tabled on the Commission’s agenda.

The eatery first applied to develop the parcel in March, but the drive-through portion was denied by a similar margin because of traffic circulation concerns.

There are two other public hearings on Council’s Aug. 15 agenda. They are:

• A request to rezone 1.92 acres at 8040 Broadmoor Road (Route 306) from R-2 single-family to B-2 general business for Aligned Chiropractic and Physical Rehabilitation Inc. The rezoning was approved by the Commission last month. A 12,210-square-foot multitenant building is proposed.

• A request to rezone 0.18 of an acre at 7461 Presley Avenue from Old Village District/residential to Old Village/commercial to provide more parking to the former school building northwest of Routes 615 and 20.

The hearings begin at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 8500 Civic Center Blvd.