Irwin officials gave the green light to a national Mexican food chain’s plan to build one of its 4,000 restaurants along Route 30 in the borough.
Borough council on Wednesday unanimously approved the land development plan from Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. for its eatery at 9174 Route 30, the site of the former Denny’s restaurant.
A spokesperson for Chipotle has said the company wants to have the restaurant open this year.
The approval is contingent on borough solicitor Zachary Kansler drafting land development and stormwater management agreements with Chipotle.
Council’s approval was in line with the recommendation the Irwin Planning Commission made last month after reviewing the company’s plans.
Work on the project could begin in February and be completed by fall, Caterina Pagano, an engineer with Bohler in Pittsburgh, told the planning commission last month. The former Denny’s building will be demolished.
Chipotle will employ 30 people and will have seating inside, as well as an interior and exterior pickup area for online orders.
Denny’s restaurant, a longtime fixture in Irwin, closed Jan. 1, according to a sign on the door. Denny’s had signed a lease in 1979 with the property owner, Betty G. Ratner and her late husband, Herb Ratner, according to documents filed with the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds.
Councilman Shawn Stitely expressed his concern that motorists going to get their food at a drive-thru window will create a traffic backup on Route 30, as has been the case at the nearby Dunkin eatery.
But, rather than Chipotle customers placing an order at a kiosk and waiting for it to be prepared, they will have to order their meal online if they want to pick it up it at the drive-thru, said Steve Schmitt, borough engineer with Gibson-Thomas Engineering of Latrobe.
The two existing entrances into Denny’s restaurants will be used by Chipotle, Schmitt said. There will be signs telling customers not to make a left turn across the eastbound lanes of Route 30 and into the westbound lanes, Schmitt said. Those signs also exist at Dunkin.
The new restaurant will be one of what Chipotle has said will be 350 to 370 new sites it expects to open this year.
The chain has two restaurants along the Route 30 corridor in Hempfield: one east of Greensburg at the Westmoreland Mall and the other west of Greensburg, across from Greengate Center. A Chipotle construction manager, Bill Zuccarello, said last month the company intends to open another restaurant at a proposed retail development near the Mountain Laurel Plaza along Route 30 in Unity.
Chipotle in Irwin will feature a new interior design style, called Habanero, that includes new materials, textures and artwork that honors the Chipotle company’s history. The style is smaller than some of its existing restaurants.