Panda Express Moves Forward With South Salina Location After Parking Variance Approval

Plans for a new Panda Express in south Salina have cleared a zoning hurdle, with the Salina Board of Zoning Appeals approving additional parking for the proposed restaurant along South Ninth Street.

The restaurant is planned for 2755 S. Ninth Street, on a 1.10-acre site east of Market Place between the Market Place Apartments and Sam's Club. The property is part of the Nine South Addition and is zoned for planned service commercial development.

Panda Express' development team requested permission to construct 56 off-street parking spaces, 25 more than the 31 spaces normally allowed under the city's zoning regulations for the property.

The Board of Zoning Appeals ultimately approved the variance 5-0. Board members cited the physical characteristics of the property and the restaurant's proposed operating model in supporting the request.

Parking and drainage discussed

The additional pavement prompted questions from board members about stormwater drainage and whether the existing detention pond could accommodate development of the property.

City staff said engineers had been asked to demonstrate that adding the 25 parking spaces would not overwhelm the detention pond. City Engineer Rex Ritter told the board the pond was designed to accommodate the full buildout of the commercial area.

Parking overflow was another concern.

Unlike some other restaurant developments where customers may temporarily use parking on neighboring commercial properties, staff noted that the Panda Express site is an isolated outlot and currently has no adjacent property available to accommodate overflow.

Henry Klover, an architect representing the project, told the board that adequate parking is important to Panda Express and said the company was excited about the location and its potential.

Klover also pointed to situations where restaurants can experience greater-than-anticipated demand, citing Chick-fil-A's drive-thru traffic as an example of why restaurant sites can become constrained when demand exceeds initial expectations.

With the variance approved, the project can move forward with plans allowing up to 56 parking spaces at the South Ninth Street location.