Red Lobster Plans Given Green Light

Plans for a Red Lobster in Palm Desert are moving forward, thanks to approval Tuesday from the city's Architectural Review Commission.

In a 7-0 vote, commissioners gave the green light to the project, with one stipulation on the design of the roof, which will be open for review during construction.

"I hate to hold up this thing because of one design detail,'' Commissioner Ron Gregory said before approving the plans.

Red Lobster hopes to open the 6,117-square-foot restaurant on the southwest corner of Highway 111 and Fred Waring Drive by the summer of 2012.

The project’s developer, John Keen of Darden Restaurants, said he was happy with the approval.

"I appreciate their comments. I understand the project is visible and out there,'' Keen said.

At a March 8 meeting, commissioners asked the developer to come up with a different look for signage, a maintenance door and the aesthetics of air conditioning units on the roofline.

Keen made most of those changes.

"There are additional construction costs added,'' he said of the tweaks.

Now that they are approved, the plans will be subject to a 15-day appeal period. The plans would not need approval from the city’s Planning Commission or City Council.

The plans only need one round of approval because of a pre-existing conditional use permit for Bananaz, which burnt down at the location in 2004.