By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
A fast food chain known for its ubiquitous tall hat insignia and roast beef sandwiches could soon take up residence on a high-profile stretch of land in Whitewater.
The city’s Plan and Architectural Review Commission approved a certified survey map Monday night linked to a proposed Arby’s at 1415 W. Main St.
Applicant ALB Restaurants Properties LLC has proposed the eatery, which is set to consume a portion of the parking lot currently used for Winchester True Value Hardware.
Mike Breitfelder of ALB Restaurants first went before city commissioners in June with plans for the Arby’s restaurant.
At this week’s meeting, the appointed group reviewed the CSM and signed off with a favorable recommendation.
City Planner Chris Munz-Pritchard said the changes to the CSM include several technical details, including tweaking lot sizes to conform to municipal code standards.
At the June meeting, Breitfelder went into greater detail about the plans for the restaurant. Commissioners at the time signed off on several other matters related to the proposal, including a conditional-use permit.
“We’re looking to join the city,” Breitfelder said at the time. “The Main Street corridor is a very tight corridor. We feel we found a good use for the frontage of this lot.”
Speaking to Arby’s and its general operations needs to succeed, Breitfelder said of the Main Street location, “It’s one of the few properties along this stretch.”
One aspect of the proposed Arby’s that has gone under the microscope is the planned use of a time-honored feature at most fast food restaurants: a drive-through.
Concerns of traffic backups — referred to at times as “stacking” — have been raised at recent meetings related to Arby’s plans for the Main Street property.
But council member Lynn Binnie, who sits on the commission, has stated he does not believe the combined traffic of the would-be Arby’s, coupled with other establishments using the driveway entrance, will have an adverse effect on the corridor.
“I think the total traffic you’re going to see there is probably not as much as what you have using the main drive at Wal-Mart, which is not an ideal situation, goodness knows,” Binnie said.
Other news, notes
In other business this week, the Plan and Architectural Review Commission:
- Discussed with Munz-Pritchard the outcome of a recent workshop meeting about long-range planning.
Municipal officials from different areas of the state attended the event, which Whitewater hosted July 18.
There were about 50 municipal staffers at the workshop, Munz-Pritchard said.
“It’s well received, so we’ll probably do it again in another three years,” she said.
- Discussed the status of the former Franklin Middle School property, which currently is under the auspices of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Commissioners in April discussed the status of the dormant 3-acre site, which is being adequately maintained under city code.
At this week’s meeting, several officials on the panel shared a desire to learn more about UW-Whitewater’s future land use plans for the site.
