Residents urge Jefferson City leaders to turn down plans for new fast food restaurant

A bill was introduced to the Jefferson City Council to approve preliminary plans for a new fast food restaurant Monday.

The proposed plans would involve building a Taco Bell in place of the Pizza Hut near the intersection of Eastland Drive and Schotthill Woods Drive.

Several residents in the neighborhood directly south of the restaurant voiced concerns about the plans at the planning and zoning commission meeting last month.

One concern was possible increased noise from the order box and from cars going through Taco Bell’s drive-through lane.

Other concerns included a lack of a sound barrier, an increase in traffic, more lighting coming from the parking lot and a possible decrease in property values.

First Ward Councilman Jim Branch said the main concern he heard from residents was the proposed restaurant’s late night hours.

“They’re supposed to be open ’til 2:00 in the morning, and that’s got the neighborhoods around there kind of concerned–you know, the lights, the noise, the crowds, late night stuff,” Branch said. “And I understand that.”

The city’s senior planner Eric Barron addressed some of the concerns to city council Monday.

Barron said the drive-through lane would be placed on the opposite side of the fast food restaurant from the neighborhood to eliminate some of the noise.

The planned lighting changes also would not be much different from the current restaurant, according to Barron.

The city council is set to hold a public hearing and vote on the issue at its next meeting on Nov. 21.