Panera Bread has been tapped to be the newest addition within the new Target shopping center in Glenville and the restaurant is eager to get shovels in the ground.
RD Management, LLC, received preliminary approval from the Glenville Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, Aug. 13 to construct a Panera Bread restaurant on the pad site of the new Target on Route 50. The developer is also seeking to amend the site to 3,800 square feet, adding 800 square feet of space. The retail strip alongside Target was reduced from 36,000 square feet to 32,000 square feet.
The standalone Panera Bread will include a drive-thru and is a newer design for the company, according to Stephen Spina, project manager representing the developer.
To expand the restaurant, 16 parking spaces were removed, but the town’s parking requirements are still being met. Spina also said the drive-thru is designed to meet industry standards.
“We feel parking will be adequate here,” Spina said, but added, “It is not truly ideal.”
Planning Commission Chairman Michael Carr did expressed concern over the developer’s request to construct a temporary fence around the retail building and restaurant site. Target wanted the fencing for both buildings until construction begins.
“We had some concerns depending on the time frame,” Carr said. “Obviously we understand we’re in a severe economic downturn now and we don’t want a fence sitting there for ages.”
Carr proposed after the fencing is approved it could be placed for one year, but then the developer would have to meet with the town to negotiate a time frame. Also, he said the town is seeking a maintenance schedule for the undeveloped areas to ensure unsightly growth, garbage and debris don’t plague the site.
“I’m sure Target is going to be looking for that as well, because they don’t want an unsightly eyesore next to their brand new shiny building out there,” Carr said.
The town has already discussed these terms with the developer before the meeting and both sides appear to have reached an agreement.
“We are excited to see this happen,” Carr said.
Spina said Panera is looking to submit an application to the town by the end of August to secure a building permit. Construction on Panera is planned to proceed during the upcoming winter, similar to Target, which received an unusually fair winter.
“They did get pretty lucky,” Spina said. “(Panera) is hoping to get the building permit before we come back here on (Sept. 10), so I don’t know if that is a stretch.”
The developer must secure a variance to construct the restaurant’s drive-thru closer to the property line than permitted and to remove some trees from the site plan, with decorative grass or smaller shrubbery planted instead.
Carr said the town is in support of the project and is seeking to proceed as “expeditiously” as possible.
