|
|
|
Uploaded: Friday, September 14, 2007, 2:32 PM
Neighbors dislike smell of KFC idea
Mayor joins others questioning plan for drive-through eatery on El Camino
|
|
by Daniel Debolt
Mountain View Voice Staff
| Neighbors packed a small meeting room at City Hall last week to oppose a KFC-A&W fast food restaurant to replace the abandoned Austin's BBQ on El Camino Real and Mariposa.
Neighbors within 300 feet of the project received notice of the meeting and about 16 showed up. They expressed concerns about the appearance of a fast food restaurant next to their homes. Some living as close as 30 feet away complained about future exhaust fumes from the drive-through. Vegetarian neighbors balked at the smell of fried chicken potentially wafting through the neighborhood.
To make the project a little more palatable, neighbors asked that the development use solar panels, composting and gray water recovery, but KFC representatives reportedly told neighbors that the company doesn't do any sort of "green building," said neighbor Christopher Bianchi.
Neighbors like Bianchi would like to see something more in line with the city's "Grand Boulevard" concept for El Camino Real -- a two-story mixed-use development with housing on the second story. What they are more likely to get is the drive-through restaurant and another new retail building next door.
The city's hands are often tied in this sort of situation, officials said -- KFC already owns the property, and the city is required by law to process applications that meet zoning requirements. No council meeting is necessary, only the approval of the zoning administrator.
But when it comes to fast food restaurants, this may prove to be one too many.
Mayor Laura Macias said she might "eat her words," but suggested the city take the lead of southern Los Angeles, where there is a moratorium on fast food restaurants in an effort to combat diabetes and other health problems.
"This isn't the wild wild west," Macias said. "Just because it's zoned that way doesn't mean you can build whatever you darn well please. Neighborhood input is important."
Applicant Hugh Murphy of Vincent and Murphy Inc. did not respond to phone calls before press time.
There is also a KFC on El Camino Real and Castro Street only a half mile away from the proposed restaurant, which Bianchi believes would close. That location doesn't have a drive-through. Drive-through lanes reportedly produce 50 percent more revenue for KFC.
The drive-through, however, is not a certainty. The city will have to decide whether to issue a conditional use permit for the drive-through, and acting zoning administrator Peter Gilli said public input would be considered.
A zoning administrator hearing has not been scheduled, but could happen as early as October, Gilli said.
Another KFC, on Charleston and San Antonio Roads, is apparently being replaced by a drive-through version across from the new Charleston Plaza. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
|
|
| Comments
|
Posted by Matt Raschke, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Sep 14, 2007 at 10:59 pm I have to say that I already miss the KFC on San Antonio at Charleston. KFC drive-through is very convenient and tasty once in a while. I prefer original recipe. I've heard that Popeye's is better than KFC, but I haven't tried it yet.
That said, I don't see why KFC can't incorporate a few green building concepts or at least create a nice building that is architecturally appealing. The Taco Bell near Castro is the best looking one I've ever seen. I would bet that was done to obtain approvals.
I don't think a moratorium on fast food is necessary, either. It sounds too much like a "nanny" state. And how do you draw the line as to what is "fast food"? What about Jamba Juice? I consider it "fast" food, but I think it is rather healthy. Some of the smoothies may be high in calories and sugars, though.
However, I can't throw stones. I'm still waiting to see what will happen to the empty Albertson's across the street from me. I'm hoping for a Border's Bookstore with a cafe. But I've heard rumors that the 24-hour Fitness is going to relocate there. That could create a lot of late night parking lot noise. We'll see. Good luck with the KFC.
|
|
Posted by Nick Perry, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2007 at 12:22 pm Just an interesting factoid: The Taco Bell near Castro was actually an attempt by the company to test out a new type of restaurant that combined Chevy's and Taco Bell. It was called Border Bell. They knocked down the old Taco Bell and built the current structure - after they abandoned the concept it became a normal Taco Bell again. Kinda like the whole McCafe on El Monte.
|
|
Posted by Amanda, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Sep 15, 2007 at 7:04 pm Mmmmmm, KFC...
I didn't realize the one on Charleston and San Antonio was gone? It seemed like the last hold out to the ginormous structure going in behind it.
**sigh**
Doesn't anyone respect the Speedy Delivery anymore?!?
Okay, kidding, but shoot, now that grad school has started, easy fast yummy meals may be necessary once in a while. Seriously.
|
|
Posted by Andrew, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 16, 2007 at 11:35 pm Did the vegetarians balk at the smell of BBQ when that used to waft through the area? Or what about the exhaust fumes from El Camino itself? And how do those complaints compare to "green building" standards?
|
|
Posted by Max, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Sep 17, 2007 at 6:11 pm Well, if we are getting a new KFC near Costco, why do we need another one on El Camino? I don't like the idea of having too many fast food places, but we sure could use a Sonic in the area.
|
|
Posted by Matt Raschke, a resident of the The Crossings neighborhood, on Sep 17, 2007 at 9:51 pm How about an Arby's? I love the jamocha shakes and curly fries. I still remember their slogan when I was a kid: "Don't worry Mom, I'm eating right..."
|
|
Posted by Frances, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 17, 2007 at 11:38 pm I live a few blocks from the KFC downtown and I can smell the chicken sometimes. It's gross to have it just lingering in the air. So I understand the concerns, but honestly I am going to be happy when it moves out of my neighborhood.
And I miss Border Bell! They had great burritos, smoothies and a drive through. But the concept sure didn't last very long.
|
|
Posted by GSB, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on Sep 18, 2007 at 9:32 am Jamocha shakes rule!
|
|
Posted by Ben, a resident of the Jackson Park neighborhood, on Sep 18, 2007 at 10:24 pm Vegetarians need to get over it. People are always looking for something to complain about. An A&W would be great! Ever since the old one on Moffet closed i've missed their great burgers and rootbeer. There are places in the world that wish their air smelled like KFC!!!!
|
|
Posted by Kristina, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Oct 1, 2007 at 3:53 pm Much ado is being made about the "smell", but the real issue is the proximity of the drive-through to the residences.
If I had a neighbor idling his car most of the day 50 feet from my window, it would be a public nuisance and he'd have to stop. If a neighbor was shouting out the window every few minutes until 11 pm, he would be a public nuisance too. A drive-through so close to houses amounts to the same thing.
The homes near the proposed KFC can learn to live with the "yucky chicken smell", but they shouldn't have to live with carbon monoxide every time they open their windows.
|
|
Posted by Andrew, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Oct 2, 2007 at 12:04 am I'm not sure about how exhaust propagates, but with respect to noise, we're talking about a development on *El Camino Real*. Is someone shouting really going to be louder than traffic whizzing by?
Unfortunately for these residents they live near El Camino which is a major commercial corridor for the area. Fortunately, it's been around for years so it shouldn't be that big of a surprise to them, either.
|
|
Posted by Robert, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Jan 6, 2008 at 9:01 pm I bemoan this lack of focus on quality and a permissiveness towards generification of Mountain View, whether it be downtown Castro or (yes) along El Camino. What separates Mountain View from many of the other cities (and indeed makes it a desirable place to congregate) is its uniqueness.
Austin's BBQ was a non-generic restaurant. Neighboring restaurants (such as FJL's / Petit Bistro / many of the time-honored family restaurants along Castro street) are not generic and represent quality.
KFC is generic in the worst sense.
Can we look at the bigger picture and try to maintain our city's quality?? Please. Let's not allow this to happen.
BtW attacks on vegetarians / non-vegetarians completely misses the point and draws the discussion into the worst possible rat-hole.
|
|
|
| |
|
Send this story
Print this story
