Popeyes granted sign variance by Plymouth BZA

Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 3:15 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Popeyes, a Louisiana-style chicken restaurant, expects to break ground break ground this fall and open in Plymouth in Spring 2025.

Chris Berry, a representative of Woolpert, the engineering company for AbyPlymouth, Inc., appeared online before the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals Tuesday seeking a variance of development standards from the city’s four signs to allow a total of seven signs.

While the city’s standard limits the number of signs to four in a commercial zoning district, some of the signs that Popeyes wants to install are more graphic designs, graffiti, or artwork. The sign request will allow the new restaurant to keep up with the national brand standard for signage. Berry told the BZA the signs are aesthetically pleasing and showed examples.

Berry told the BZA they had been to the city’s TRC (Technical Review Committee) meeting and met with INDOT for their driveway permit. He also said an agreement has been worked out for their use of the access road with Jim Masterson of Masterson & Associates along with Dunkin Donuts.

The only comment during the public hearing came from Mayor Robert Listenberger who is a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisee. He spoke in favor of the new restaurant and commented that he likes their spicy chicken.

The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved the variance to allow the additional signs.

The BZA also approved a request from Colvin Enterprises at 1815 North Michigan Street to reduce the size of parking spaces in a new private lot from 10x20 to 9x20.