After reviewing the site plan for a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant Wednesday afternoon, the Town of Dunkirk Planning Board unanimously approved the project. Planning Board Chairman Paul Bowers and members Jordan Cooper, Benjamin Gloss, and Richard Mackowiak all voted in favor of the project.

“This has become a big highlight in the community lately,” Code Enforcement Officer Ryan Mourer stated, referring to the public reaction to the news of the plans.

The plans call for a newly constructed building totaling 2,325 square feet located in the parking lot of the plaza that includes Harbor Freight, DaVita, and Five Below on Vineyard Drive. Two representatives from Benderson Development — David Zuppelli and Brendan McVeigh — presented the official site and construction plans to Mourer and the Planning Board on Wednesday afternoon.

The building will feature a patio for outdoor dining, as well as indoor seating for dine-in customers. There will also be a “Chipotlane” for customers to pick up orders submitted online. The Chipotlane and pick-up window do not allow for drive-through orders.

Code Enforcement Officer Ryan Mourer supported the project in its presentation to the Planning Board. Mourer expects to issue a building permit for the project to proceed in the coming days.

Chipotle will be built at the front end of the parking lot to the plaza, close to Dunkin’ Donuts and Tim Hortons. The parking lot of the plaza will be reconfigured around the space where Chipotle will be built, with new striping to define the driving lanes and parking spots, rather than repaving the area. Both access points to the plaza near the site will remain operational, with access at the traffic light encouraged.

With Chipotle set to occupy substantial space in the parking lot of the plaza, employee parking will be added in the area behind DaVita and Harbor Freight. Additional parking requirements will need to be met in the applications of future developments in the plaza to utilize its existing vacant space. Mourer urged the Planning Board to not let what might come down the road stand in the way of Chipotle getting the green light.

“The bottom line is, today, the focus for the Board is on Chipotle meeting the requirements and making sure it coincides with Harbor Freight, DaVita, and Five Below — not the vacant space that’s there now,” Mourer said.

After a brief discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of the project. There were no conditions tied to the project’s approval. Signage and lighting in the plaza will be addressed as the project proceeds.

With no need for a variance and approval from the Town Board no longer needed, the project can move forward much quicker than many projects in the past. Mourer will issue a building permit in the coming days, which will allow the construction to begin in the coming weeks.

Pictured is an artist’s rendering of a Chipotle restaurant set to be built in the town of Dunkirk. Photos by Braden Carmen

Zuppelli said, “They’ll throw it up. It will go quick.”

In his discussions with representatives from Chipotle, Mourer added, “They want to go now, which is surprising this late in the year.”

Chautauqua County signed off on the project, stating that the project does not pose a negative environmental impact on the surrounding area. Bowers said, “Basically, they look forward to working with Benderson and Chipotle.”

McVeigh added, “We look forward to working with the town on this project.”