Locals protesting the establishment of a new Taco Bell in Turlock will meet before the City Council on Tuesday as the members will determine if the process to establish the fast food chain near Pitman High School will continue.

City representatives and protesting locals will meet for the first time since June as the City prepares to discuss granting a Minor Discretionary Permit to the fast food restaurant. In June, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the 24-hour Taco Bell restaurant at 3606 N. Golden State Blvd., along Roberts and Mountainview roads, with a few added conditions in an effort to mitigate concerns of nearby residents and property owners.

According to a traffic study done for the project, the restaurant is expected to generate 96 morning and 69 afternoon peak hour trips, with approximately 50 percent of those trips being made by traffic already passing by the area. The study also found there should be no changes to the existing levels of service in the area as a result of the new restaurant. A noise assessment done for the project found that expected noise levels would not exceed what is already in the area due to Golden State Boulevard traffic.

To mitigate some of the noise and traffic concerns, the project design includes 3 feet of landscape screening around the property; a drive-through lane that is parallel to Golden State Boulevard instead of residential streets; and the drive-through window speaker system facing Golden State.
Planning Commissioners expressed their understanding about residents' concerns, however, said that the property in question is zoned for "Heavy Commercial" use, which allows for fast food restaurants. Since locals have filed an appeal the item it will be brought before the Council on Tuesday to determine if the City will grant the fast food chain a Minor Discretionary Permit.

Other items slated to be discussed on Tuesday, include:
• A resolution to establish a Residential Permit Parking Zone along Garden Lane and Garden Court will be discussed. Precipitated by homeowners' concerns that nearby apartment complex residents are parking in front of their residences, if passed the item will provide the homeowners parking passes and apartment residents will need to find alternative locations to park;

• A request to authorize the City Manager to sign tentative agreements between the Turlock, Modesto, and Ceres Fire Departments, and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District to provide automatic aid in the case of a disaster, major fire, or emergency;

• A Memorandum of Understanding with the County is slated to be discussed for the development of the Regional Consolidated Plan for 2015-2020. This includes a 2015 Annual Action Plan and an updated Assessment of Impediment to Fair Housing. It will also give the City Manager the authorization to execute all related documents pertaining to the project.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.