Northwood News ♦ February 2002

Finger-Lickin’ Good?  You Decide!

According to the experts at Raab and Associates, a consulting firm retained by Tricon Restaurants, the ratio of Limited Service Restaurants to residents, households, and jobs in Montgomery County is too low.  It seems that we are being deprived of our rightful share of quick, convenient, delicious, prepared meals.  The solution?  Open another fast food drive-through restaurant in Four Corners!

Kentucky Fried Chicken wants to build and open a combined KFC/Pizza Hut drive-through restaurant at the Woodmoor Shopping Center.  They propose to demolish the former residence at the northwest corner of University Boulevard and Lexington Drive, in the back corner of the Center’s rear parking lot, and replace it with a 3,200-square-foot eatery open until 11:00 p.m. on weeknights and till midnight on Friday and Saturday.  They argue that it will not bring extra noise, traffic, odors, or bright lights to the area and that it will enhance the Center and neighborhood.  Aspects of the architectural design are said to complement the Art Deco theme of the Woodmoor Center.  However, they do intend to keep the traditional KFC corner tower, 24 feet high, featuring a smiling Col. Sanders and the Pizza Hut logo.  These elements would be repeated on an eight-by-ten foot backlit neon sign atop a 20-foot high pylon to go up at the same corner.

In order to proceed with their project, KFC has applied to the Montgomery County Board of Appeals for a special exception from zoning ordinances.  This is because the current C-4 zoning, low-density commercial, does not consider drive-through restaurants a compatible use of the land.  A public hearing is scheduled for 3 April 2002 to consider the KFC application.

The NFCCA would like to provide its membership an opportunity to review the plans and learn more about the proposed restaurant, so representatives of KFC and their local law firm, Linowes and Blocher, LLP, have agreed to address our February meeting.  Following their presentation, we may wish to entertain a motion to let the county know our position on the application.   ■