Plans to open another outlet of a popular Mexican restaurant chain on the Sunshine Coast are now open for public feedback.
Guzman y Gomez has applied to open a new restaurant with dual drive-through lanes at 209 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs.
The application was initially submitted to Sunshine Coast Council in March and outlined that the restaurant would include a 250sqm food and drink outlet and a 49sqm alfresco seating area.
It would be built on a 6650sqm vacant site immediately to the west of the recently developed Ampol service centre that includes a drive-through McDonald’s and KFC.
The council sent an information request in April, highlighting some concerns around the application, with town planning firm Urbis responding late last month on behalf of Guzman Y Gomez Limited.
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Stormwater and waste management, infrastructure connections, landscaping and pedestrian access were among the issues highlighted in the council information request.
The response from Urbis says the proposal plans have been amended, with changes including a new bioretention basin, revised building facade and relocation of the entry path from the north of the site to the south.
“A feature pedestrian entry arbour and awning are proposed at the pedestrian access point to the site,” it says.
“This presents as a focal entrance point that not only services the proposed Guzman y Gomez restaurant, but also the broader service centre which currently lacks a key pedestrian entry point.”
The response says moving the entry path to the southern boundary, closest to the existing service centre, will reduce travel distance from nearby facilities.
“The revised pedestrian and cyclist entry path offers more convenient access to the proposed development and surrounding uses (service centre, the University of the Sunshine Coast and Chancellor State College) minimising the distance of travel from nearby key pedestrian generators,” it says.
The town planning report submitted in March said the proposal would be a logical expansion to the existing quick-service precinct.
“The proposed development involves a new Guzman Y Gomez restaurant, which seeks to improve the retail offering in the area through providing additional contemporary and varied food service offering,” it said.
“The inclusion of a food and drink outlet use with drive-through facilities will complement the surrounding uses and enhance the food service offering of the area.”
The first GYG opened in the Sydney suburb of Newtown in October 2006. The chain now includes more than 220 restaurants across Australia, Singapore, Japan and the US.
The Sippy Downs outlet would join the restaurants at Birtinya, Caloundra, Kawana Shoppingworld and Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. A GYG is also in the works at Baringa, with another planned for Glass House Mountains.
Public notification opened on June 26 and closes on July 18.
