Plans for Drysdale KFC lodged with City of Greater Geelong

A proposal for a KFC outlet in Drysdale has split the community, but a poll of Geelong Advertiser readers has given another clue to the overwhelming sentiment in the town.

A new fast food outlet could be headed to the Bellarine under new plans lodged with the council — and Geelong Advertiser readers love the idea.

Applications put forward by Toronton Pty Ltd proposing a new KFC store at 57-59 Murradoc Road, Drysdale were first advertised with the City of Greater Geelong earlier this month.

Permits were sought for the building and operation of the store, two new vehicle crossings on adjacent land, advertising display signs and space for car and bike parking.

KFC could be coming to Drysdale.

Under the plan, the site would have 31 car spaces, a loading bay, 41 seats inside and operate between 9.30am-midnight seven days a week.

According to plans, the current site is vacant with no significant vegetation.

After being posted across several local community group Facebook pages, the plans attracted big interest and mixed reactions.

Some lauded the decision as a boost to local employment, but others were unsure about the way it could impact small-businesses.

“Why do the large take away places have to spoil every little town?” one commenter wrote.

“Such an eyesore and their food is dreadful.”

Others were more optimistic about the potential for big chains on the Bellarine.

“Personally I reckon Drysdale needs it, creates jobs and it will bring more people to the town to spend with local businesses,” they wrote.

What do you think of the plans? Join the conversation below >>

But the majority of Geelong Advertiser readers say it’s exactly what the town needs, with 75 per cent of more than 400 voters supporting the plans.

Reader Johnson said: “There’s already plenty of fast food equivalent in Drysdale and surrounds, so why kick up a stink if a KFC wants to open up? Given how much is being bulldozed on the Bellarine to put up new developments, surely this is hardly the greatest threat to the ‘lifestyle’ in the area.”

Dick said: “I don’t eat KFC, and as a Drysdale resident, don’t see any valid reason to oppose the proposal.”

Another reader, Sean, said Drysdale needed “more quality food establishments like this one”, citing his difficulty to find a ‘decent meal’.

The application reveals how the developers plan to limit its impact on surrounding homes.

With a residential zone nearby, the company proposed a 2m wide strip at the back of the site to improve amenity.

“A 2m wide landscape strip across the rear boundary will assist in separating and protecting this zone from the activities occurring on the site,” the report read.

“It is noteworthy that the drive through order point is some 40m from the rear boundary whilst the loading bay, building, bin storage and drive through pick up are further away from the rear boundary in the front half of the site.”

None of the signage is proposed to face nearby residential zones.

“These measures will protect the residential zone from any impacts arising from noise, lightspill and odour,” the report read.

Public comment on the project closes on February 1.

Originally published as Plans for Drysdale KFC lodged with City of Greater Geelong