Pictured above is a rendering of a proposed Panera location planned for Lydia Drive in the City Gate development. The restaurant has filled an application with the Marysville Board of Zoning Appeals.
(Graphic submitted)
––––
A national restaurant could be making a local home.
Engineers for Panera Bread have filed an application with Marysville’s Board of Zoning Appeals.
In an e-mail about the proposed Panera, Marysville City Engineer Jeremy Hoyt said “project is planned to be located on Lydia Drive (between Boston’s and Comfort Suites) within the City Gate development.”
According to plans filed with the city the 4,200 square foot facility will have a variety of seating, an outside patio and a drive thru.
Hoyt said city officials met with the engineers last week. The engineers are asking for variance of the setback regulations because the parcel is oddly shaped.
“Because of the cul-de-sac orientation of this lot, the lot is shaped like a pie,” Hoyt said. “Therefore, Panera Bread, or any potential owner, is seeking relief from building their structure at our required front setback line.”
He said the engineers are asking to move the building closer to U.S. 33. If the variance is not granted thee would be enough room for the building, but no space for parking on the 1.46-acres plot.
Panera engineers will officially ask for the variance at a Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) meeting March 18.
Hoyt said he said he expects the Board of Zoning Appeals to make a decision at the March meeting.
“I anticipate those variances would be granted,” Hoyt said.
Hoyt explained that if the variance is approved, the project would go to the city’s Design Review Board (DRB) for “architectural and site design approval.”
He said that based on the city’s discussions with Panera officials, he believes they want to present the project at the April 10, DRB meeting.
Officials from Connolly Construction, which owns the parcel, could not comment on the project.
“I am bound by confidentiality and cannot comment on certain things, but I can say we work with lots of people and we are always looking for good users,” Connolly said.
Multiple emails and phone calls to Panera went unreturned.
According to the company website, there were 2,114 bakery-cafes in 48 states and Canada, operating under Panera Bread or Saint Louis Bread Co. names as of Dec. 28, 2018. The website indicates Panera has nearly $6 billion in system-wide sales, and over 100,000 associates.