Glenwood Springs approves rebuilding of KFC

The Colonel's smiling face will not be used in signage for new building

By Pete Fowler
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
December 11, 2007

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GLENWOOD SPRINGS - Colonel Sanders long has kept his recipe for chicken a secret. Now he'll hide his face in plans for a new version of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant near the Hotel Colorado.

KFC agreed not to put the smiling face of Colonel Sanders on signs for the new building, which will be a slightly larger version of the current KFC at 555 Pine St., across the street from the Hotel Colorado. Instead of a big picture of the Colonel, the building will have 11-square-foot signs on the south and east sides with the letters "KFC."

KFC made other stylistic concessions after the city expressed concerns about the fast food restaurant conflicting with the Hotel Colorado's historic style. Plans include rebuilding the KFC with red brick and stucco accents.

"Taking into account its proximity to the Hotel Colorado, KFC selected a building style, materials and colors that blend into the environment and complement, rather than detract from, the historic hotel," a Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning report states. The report adds that the location will "be slightly forward of but nearly identical to the existing building."

Council approved the development permit Thursday. Gene Summers of Near Design and Planning made the application on behalf of William Gillette. Plans include tearing down the existing KFC and building a 2,308-square-foot KFC.

KFC had applied for 400 square feet more than the current building. Parking will be altered to add spaces, and landscaping will be enhanced. Also approved were a special use permit for the drive-through and a zoning variance allowing the front yard setback to be 16.5 feet less than the 20-foot setback required in the zone.

"It is a 1970s building, and it's worn and showing its age, and that is why we have chosen not to keep the same building and just dress it up, but rather to tear the entire building down and start with a new building," Summers said, according to minutes from a P&Z meeting.

After Thursday's meeting, Mayor Bruce Christensen said that use of the alley for drive-through service was a topic of concern.

"My concern was if there really needed to be drive-up access since we're trying to promote pedestrianism in the downtown area," he said.

Some neighbors also expressed fears that using the alley for the drive-through would cause headlights to point into homes nearby, and that the drive-through speaker would create too much noise, Christensen said. But he added that the city staff and the majority of council didn't think those would become big issues.

Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121pfowler@postindependent.com



Post Independent, Glenwood Springs Colorado CO