DRP approves redevelopment plan for Taco Bell at 700 Eastern Boulevard, subject to staff conditions

The Baltimore County Design Review Panel on June 11 recommended approval of a redevelopment plan for the Taco Bell property at 700 Eastern Boulevard in the Essex commercial review area, subject to the Department of Planning’s conditions.

Dino Lafiandra, representing Essex Investors LLC, said the project would remove the existing 2,500-square-foot Taco Bell and adjacent one-story house, combine the parcels and build a new approximately 2,700-square-foot Taco Bell with indoor seating for about 40 and an outdoor patio. "We submitted a proposed application for a zoning variance," Lafiandra said, noting the applicant will seek relief from county parking requirements.

Brian Cleary, civil engineer for the team, described site circulation and stormwater work. The design calls for a dual-lane drive-through, 24 parking spaces on site and a stormwater management facility on the east side abutting Hartman Avenue. Cleary said the current double-row parking out front is functionally poor and the new layout aims to improve queuing and circulation. The landscape plan shows evergreen buffering and a proposed continuous six-foot privacy fence along the rear property line adjacent to residences; Cleary said the developer can install the fence early in construction if the neighbor requests it.

Architect Anna Atab described an updated "modern" Taco Bell aesthetic with a glassed vestibule, metal-panel accents and a wood-look plinth. She said the design will include murals on one elevation and a canopy-covered patio of about 12 outdoor seats. The team said the existing pylon sign will be refaced and the sign heights and counts will be set through the sign-permit process; they acknowledged sign variances may be required.

During public comment, nearby resident David Sigolem, owner of 4 Hartman Avenue behind the site, urged the applicant to install fencing and buffering early in construction and asked about noise and dumpster pickup times. Cleary and the applicant’s representatives responded that the new dumpster will be housed in a masonry enclosure with self-closing gates, moved farther from the property line (approximately 20 feet from the rear property line versus about 8 feet today), and that the plan includes an evergreen buffer of roughly 30 trees and additional shrubs.

Planning staff presented a report recommending approval with conditions, including: labeling all proposed and removed vegetation and specimen trees on the landscape plan, providing details for the outdoor seating area, specifying the proposed dumpster enclosure materials and dimensions and coordinating a bus shelter with the State Highway Administration if required. Staff also noted the site does not meet parking requirements and the applicant must seek a variance for 24 parking spaces in lieu of 49 spaces.

Panel discussion touched on circulation and the placement of the Stewart Street access; applicant representatives said they preferred to retain existing access locations but said they could consider relocating the Stewart entrance northward if the panel wanted. Panel member Mister Khan raised concerns about potential vehicular conflict in the Stewart Street entrance area; the applicant said the existing access locations have operated for about 20–25 years and that keeping the primary entrance close to Eastern Boulevard reduces circulation near residences.

Mister Kurjikar moved to approve the project conditioned on the Department of Planning staff report. Mister Sharma seconded the motion. Panel member Mister Khan voted in opposition; the motion passed 4–1. The panel’s approval is advisory; the applicant must obtain required variances and county permits before construction.