Logan Township Planning Commission OKs new Chipotle building
Logan Township approves subdivision plan for upcoming Park Hills Plaza site
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Members of the Logan Township Planning Commission unanimously approved a subdivision plan with a modification and a land development plan for the upcoming Park Hills Plaza Chipotle Mexican Grill on Tuesday evening.
Owen England, director of business development at Quattro Development, presented the new building's blueprint to the planning commission, which will subdivide 0.55 acres of the parking lot to include a restaurant, 30 parking spaces and a drive-thru lane for mobile pickup orders.
With all approvals, England said a construction crew will break ground in October and continue working for about 120 days. To avoid winter weather conditions, they're expected to finish exterior construction before Thanksgiving and focus on interior work through the beginning of 2027.
Because the 2,380-square-foot restaurant will occupy current parking spots, England requested a subdivision with a modification to create two direct access lanes from Plank Road to Chipotle. The restaurant will not be directly accessible from Plank Road.
England said that his company tried to create a direct access lane from Plank Road to the new Chipotle with a viewing corridor, but it wasn't possible. Their current plan involving two direct access lanes still keeps internal traffic circulation intact, and exiting traffic goes back on the main interior road.
"It's kind of a sideways way of getting straight on Plank Road, but it was one spot in the mall that we felt made the most sense for a subdivision," he said.
Crediting Logan Township for its successful and packed Plank Road corridor, England said that there aren't any alternative sites available, as they've been searching for possible building locations for the last five years.
The current restaurant located on Osgood Drive is among the top 5% of busiest Chipotles, he said. Another location will ease the first location's business.
"I love Chipotle; I make a motion that we approve it," board member Jesse Moyer said before the formal vote.
During the vote for the land development plan, Vice Chairman Rick Meintel said he wanted to see more landscaping included in the new location's design.
When England visited Park Hills Plaza earlier on Tuesday, he said he noticed that the space was over-parked.
"There is quite literally no one in those spots," he said. "They're already overparked by over 100 spots, probably beating 70 of them."
The restaurant itself will also include 22 parking spots and a Chipotlane, which is a digital pick-up lane for pre-ordered food.
Cassandra Schmick, director of planning and zoning, asked England how customers can exit the lane after realizing it's only reserved for pre-placed orders.
Customers who enter the Chipotlane -- who are unaware that it is not a drive-thru but for pre-placed orders -- must wait until they're through the line or in parking spaces to exit the lane, England said. The restaurant is still open for customers who park and walk into the restaurant to order their food.
It will likely take residents a bit to get used to the Chipotlane at first, but they've seen people adapt pretty quickly to the new addition in other markets, he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.