WASHINGTON CITY — In its last meeting, the Washington City Council approved a zoning change that was required before construction on a new restaurant could begin.
Near the intersection of Buena Vista Boulevard and Primavera Lane, the city’s planning commission had previously recommended the applicant’s proposed change from C-2 to C-23-10 in its meeting on Sept. 20.
“The proposed Panera Bread restaurant-cafe has a building footprint of 3,860 square feet with approximately half of this area being used to seat customers,” read the council’s information packet from Sept. 27. “There is a double lane drive through which will help with vehicle stacking and traffic flow in the area. There is also an area for customers to eat outdoors on the south end of the building.”
The city council approved the zoning change that will require developers to meet the standards as outlined in city ordinance, building and fire codes.
The developer must also complete improvements for storm drainage and water detention that are approved by the Washington City Public Works Department prior to the issuance of building permits.
The city council’s approval was also conditional on the applicant submitting a traffic impact study for review and approval to the public works department.
The new Panera Bread restaurant-cafe is to be built at 876 West Buena Vista Boulevard, across Primavera Lane from the newly built Maverik convenience store.
Panera Bread’s first full-service location in Utah opened on Aug. 2 in Riverton, followed by the announcement for another to be built in Lehi.
Also on the agenda, Black Bear Diner asked the council for an amendment to its conditional use permit to allow them to install three electric vehicle charging stations.
The stations would be placed in the restaurant’s north parking lot and be solar-powered. The ports would be capable of charging six vehicles at one time, and the solar panels would be installed on eight covered parking structures.
Planning commission members also recommended approval for the charging stations in their previous meeting upon several conditions. The most noteworthy is that the shade structures are to be constructed with a parapet wall so that the solar panels are not visible.
Representatives of the diner’s applicantion for construction said an initial charging station would be installed, which can accommodate two vehicles, during the first phase of the planned project.
As the station’s use increases, additional stations would be added as needed, project managers for the solar company Solarizing told the council and mayor.
After discussion, the Washington City Council voted to approve changes to the diner’s conditional use permit and allow plans for the charging stations to proceed.
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