Coming to Canberra? An artist’s impression of the sign proposed for Nyrang Street, Fyshwick, showing Taco Bell pairing with a new KFC outlet. Image: DNA Architects.
Giant US Mexican-inspired fast food franchise Taco Bell could join Kentucky Fried Chicken on a redeveloped site in Fyshwick, according to plans lodged for the project.
A development application has been submitted from Spunlock Pty Ltd, the owner of a 7835 square metre site on Canberra Avenue that includes the 7-Eleven service station, part of which is already home to a KFC outlet (Block 6 and 7 Section 7).
The $6.2 million project involves demolishing the existing KFC building and the adjacent carwash and constructing three single-level buildings – a new 352 sqm KFC outlet, a new 252 sqm restaurant and three tenancies of 80 sqm each.
While the DA’s proposal outline only refers to a second restaurant, plans show the Taco Bell branding on a sign and refer to a Taco Bell waste enclosure.
It would be Canberra’s first Taco Bell restaurant, although it was first mooted in 2018.
Region contacted Canberra Town Planning, the proponent, and the architect but could not confirm whether Taco Bell will be coming to Canberra.
It may be the proponent only has Taco Bell in mind as a possible tenant.
The DA says the restaurants will have their own dedicated loading zone and drive-through facility.
The service station will remain as it is, although a new illuminated 7-Eleven pylon sign will show fuel prices.
What the new KFC will look like, as viewed from the north. Image: BDAI Architects.
Other works proposed include additional parking on Block 6 to cater for customers across the entire site; more signs, including another illuminated pylon on Nyrang Street showing KFC and Taco Bell branding; and landscaping, including replacement trees.
A total of 92 parking spaces are required, with 85 provided and seven to be found within 100 metres off-site.
The DA says trees fronting Canberra Avenue to the corner of Nyrang Street are proposed to be removed, replaced by more formal tree plantings consistent with the intended landscape character of Canberra Avenue.
A report from Canopy Group says there are 30 Regulated Trees on the site, most of which have deadwood and are medium quality.
Many are located within a raised medium strip within a group of non-regulated trees, and Canopy Group recommends they be retained as a group or not at all.
An artist’s impression of the second restaurant. Image: DNA Architects.
The proposal must comply with a Development Control Plan because it is on Canberra Avenue, which falls under the National Capital Plan as an approach route.
Taco Bell was founded in 1962 by Glen Bell in California and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc, which also operates KFC and Pizza Hut stores.
It tried in vain to expand to Australia in the 80s and 90s, but in 2018, both ASX-listed Collins Food Group and Restaurant Brands Group announced agreements with Yum! to roll out more than a hundred outlets between them across Australia, including Canberra.
But the pandemic delayed the expansion and there are now 39 Taco Bell locations in Australia.
Collins operates 14 sites in Queensland, nine in Victoria and four in Western Australia, with Restaurant Brands having 12 in NSW, where it also has KFC outlets.
If Taco Bell is coming to Canberra, it will be through Restaurant Brands. A spokesperson for Collins said the company was not involved.
Comment on the DA is open until 25 June.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Riotact.
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