Developer looking to open KFC outlet in Osoyoos

A well-known housing developer in the South Okanagan is looking to build a new drive-through Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant in the Gateway Plaza in Osoyoos.

The proposed restaurant would be located alongside Hwy. 97, across from the Dollar Store With More and would constitute the first restaurant to be located in the commercial plaza, says a staff report from Osoyoos senior planner Francesa Sanna.

Gateway Plaza in Osoyoos is also home to the Buy-Low grocery store and an electronics outlet.

Staff note that Gateway Plaza has no direct access to Hwy. 97 and the only access is either from Hwy. 3 or Eagle Court, the street leading to the mall.

The applicant for this project is well-known residential housing developer Hart Buckendahl through the company Century 21 Resources Ltd.

The building permit states the 16-seat restaurant would be just over 1,500 square feet in size and the drive-through pickup window would be situated on the rear of the building, said Sanna’s report.

A post shared by KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken (@kfc) on May 10, 2018 at 5:01am PDT

An existing median would need to be relocated to accommodate the restaurant development.

The proposed restaurarnt’s colour and finish would fit with Gateway Plaza’s design and form characteristics, said the report.

Zoning bylaws suggest a restaurant this size should have five stalls, but six are being proposed in front of the restaurant, including one disability parking space.

Staff note restaurant construction would result in the loss of existing parking spaces, but the plaza will still have enough parking spaces left to meet the required numbers under Town regulations, said the report.

The Town’s planning and development department is recommending Council agree to issue a commercial development permit for this project.

To see the staff report, click here.