Wendy's gets nod to rebuild

By Angela Carbone

05/12/2008- The Republican

WEST SPRINGFIELD - Fast food is on the fast track.

Wendy's Corp. received approval last week to demolish the current restaurant on Park Street and build another. It closed in July.

John Derr, Wendy's field construction manager, said the company hopes to begin demolition soon and start building once the site is cleared. He was at the city's Building Department on Friday to pick up building permit applications and drop off the plans approved by the Planning Board.
 
If all goes well, the eatery will be open at 288 Park St. before Sept. 4, said Derr.

Tim A. Coon of J.R. Russo & Associates of East Windsor represented Wendy's at the Planning Board meeting. He said the 78-seat restaurant with drive-through service will be different from the one now standing.

Wendy's will build a narrow prototype, which will be 14 feet farther back from the street. This will allow one-way circulation, said Coon.

When the current building was in operation, customers had to go back out on to Park Street if they did not find a parking space.

The parking area will be repaved and striped, and lighting fixtures will be replaced. The site will be re-landscaped.

"We do believe the site plan is a great improvement and a benefit to the town," said Coon.

The drive-through will have space for 16 cars in queue. This is more than required by the zoning ordinance, said Planning Director Richard A. Werbiskis.

Two residents expressed concerns last week.

Robert T. Ouimet of 298 Park St. wanted to know the hours of operation.

Coon said the eatery will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., but the drive-through will not close until 1 a.m.

"That's going to be a big inconvenience," Oimet said.

He said his main concern was noise.

Derr said Wendy's will install new technology that displays customers' orders on a screen rather than having an employee repeat them on a loudspeaker.

"The noise generated at the pickup window is less than on the street," he said.

Planning Board member Aldo M. Bertera noted that many fast-food spots are going to 24-hour service.

"I don't think this location would warrant that," Derr said.

Donald J. Ouimet, speaking as a trustee of 310 Park St., said he hopes Wendy's will pick up the litter around the site so that it does not blow on to neighbors' properties.

Disabilities Commission Chairman David I. Katz praised Wendy's plan for moving the handicapped parking spaces. The new location will provide better access, he said.

"They moved them without being asked," he noted.