Taco Bell is coming to a busy shopping area in Diamondhead. Here are the details.
A Taco Bell restaurant is planned for one of the busiest shopping areas in Diamondhead, Mayor Nancy Depreo confirmed Monday.
B&G Food Enterprises, LLC wants to open a location of the fast food chain at 4405 Aloha Drive. The developers will submit their proposal to the city’s planning and zoning commission Tuesday.
City law requires the planning and zoning commission to approve any drive-thru in Diamondhead, Depreo said. If the commission denies the drive-thru, developers can appeal the decision to the City Council.
“We are very excited about the new development,” Depreo told the Sun Herald. “We feel it will be a catalyst for other restaurants to come to Diamondhead when they see we have the market to support such a restaurant.”
Taco Bell will be located near Rouses Supermarket and other restaurants and businesses in front of the city near Interstate 10. Diamondhead has seen recent growth, with new houses and businesses popping up across town. The city recently shared a 20-year development plan that includes a “town center” and new business corridor.
The business next door to the new Taco Bell, though, shared concerns about the development.
The Diamondhead True Value hardware store is asking residents to attend the planning and zoning commission meeting to speak against the Taco Bell. The owners said on Facebook that the restaurant will likely cut the store’s parking in half.
“We have worked hard in the last five years to get the store where it is and we dearly appreciate all the business but this design for Taco Bell will be detrimental to our business,” True Value said in the post.
The business also said the popular chain restaurant will make traffic in the area more congested. Traffic at the front of Diamondhead is often congested during peak rush hour times. The city also enacted a plan that prevents left turns off the Interstate 10 eastbound exit during those times to ensure cars are not stuck on the exit ramp.
A few dozen comments have been added to the post, with many residents speaking against the Taco Bell. Some suggested a different location, while others say another chain will hurt local restaurants.
Depreo said she has not heard from Diamondhead True Value or any other businesses regarding the Taco Bell restaurant.
The planning and zoning commission meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Diamondhead City Hall. The agenda was not available online around 1 p.m. Monday.
