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Panda Express seeks 2,700‑sq.‑ft. restaurant and private access drive at 919 Joliet; commission approves primary plat
Summary
The Dyer Plan Commission approved a primary plat for a proposed 2,700‑square‑foot Panda Express with a drive‑through and a proposed private access drive to Great Lakes Drive; staff and the applicant said notices were posted and design tweaks aim to limit traffic conflicts.
The Dyer Plan Commission on Oct. 20 approved a primary plat for a proposed Panda Express restaurant that would occupy roughly 1.35 acres along the Route 30 corridor.
Matt Yanda of CESO, representing Panda Express, told the commission the project is planned as a 2,700‑square‑foot restaurant with a drive‑through, parking, landscaping and a private access drive that would connect the site to Great Lakes Drive. He said the current vacant parcel is about 1.15 acres and the applicant proposes adding a 0.2‑acre strip from an adjacent parcel to create the 1.35‑acre site and record an access easement for the private drive.
Staff confirmed required public‑notice steps — newspaper posting, certified mail and a sign on the property — before the commission opened the hearing. After the presentation no members of the public came to the podium to offer testimony during the hearing.
Commissioners questioned circulation and safety. Yanda said the private drive is designed for two‑way traffic, with widened turn radii where it meets Great Lakes Drive to accommodate commercial deliveries. A participant who did not self‑identify raised concerns about a nearby informal cut‑through and possible collision risks; commissioners and staff said the access design anticipates controls such as stop signage and adjusted radii to reduce conflict points.
The commission moved, seconded and approved the primary plat by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting record. The motion referenced the one‑lot subdivision and site layout described in the applicant’s materials as the basis for approval.
What happens next: staff and the applicant will proceed with final engineering and any required easement instruments; the record contains inconsistent address styling (the transcript refers to "919 Joliet Avenue" and later "919 Joliet Street"); the meeting materials should be consulted for the definitive mailing address.
