'Drive-thru restaurant' planned for mall

City planning committee approves rezoning of portion of Newcastle mall property

A new drive-thru restaurant is proposed for part of the Miramichi Business Complex property at 410 King George Hwy., in the former town of Newcastle. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

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MIRAMICHI • The Miramichi Business Complex property in the former town of Newcastle could soon be home to a new drive-thru restaurant.

On Tuesday, the city’s planning review and adjustment committee unanimously recommended a rezoning requested by Toronto firm True North Commercial REIT from general commercial (GC) to highway commercial (HC) to accommodate the proposed development on a 6,384-square-metre parcel of 410 King George Hwy.

The project’s fate now lies in city council’s hands.

In a report presented to the committee, Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission planning services manager Nic O’Dette said the applicant plans to construct the restaurant as an “out-pad” development on the property. He said the prospective business name isn’t being disclosed at this time, pending the finalization of the lease.

“The subject property is currently zoned GC, which does not permit a drive-thru restaurant as a main use,” he said in his report.

“The proposed development aligns with the typical format of a fast-food drive-thru restaurant. Rezoning to the HC zone would permit this use and a broader range of automotive-oriented commercial activities in the future.”