Taco Bell is a go

Screenshots from Stream TV meeting coverage

The Titusville City Council gave the final approval needed for Charter Foods to build a new Taco Bell at the site of the former Perkins Restaurant and Bakery on East Central Avenue.

"All aspects of the plans comply with all zoning codes and all planning codes and all recommendations set forth by the Titusville Planning Commission," Skip Welling reported to the council during a special hearing Monday night. Welling handles code enforcement, zoning and building inspection for the city.

The city has been working through the plan since the spring, ensuring that it met the city's policies and ordinances. Monday's hearing and the vote during the regular meeting that followed were the last steps.  

Welling told the council the Taco Bell plans well surpassed the requirements, including a bike rack to support the trail plan, and lighting and drive-thru details recommended by the planning commission.

"We recommend to council approval of the final plans," planning commission chairperson Rhonda Clark wrote on behalf of the commission. The housing authority also voiced support saying the Taco Bell group has been a "very good neighbor."

With the demolition of the old restaurant building already complete, Welling said construction will likely start immediately.  "Pretty much everything is set and ready to go," he said. ​

"As a city, we are happy to see a vacant property change into something that is going to look a lot better than what's there," said mayor Jon Crouch.

"Skip, thank you very much for the work you put in on this project," councilperson William McCrillis said following the council's unanimous vote of approval. "It means a lot to us up here (council table) and it means a lot to the city... It gives us a foothold of where we need to be in the town."  

(Watch the entire hearing through the Stream TV recording posted on Facebook.)