THE FOLLOWING IS A BILL PICKETT STORY
A new Sonic Restaurant and Jimmy Johns Sandwich Shop are still coming to the intersection of Fairchild and Vermilion Streets in Danville. But owner Patrick Wampler says they will be opening a little later than he had originally planned.
Wampler says construction work on the site will likely begin in about two months. He says the new businesses will probably open late this year or early next year. Wampler was on hand Thursday for a meeting of the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission. The Commission agreed unanimously to recommend to the Danville City Council that it approve rezoning for a small parcel of land at the north end of the site from Professional to General Business. It includes an area where a house was demolished.
The new Sonic and Jimmy Johns will be separate buildings. Jimmy Johns has already closed one of its locations on North Vermilion Street and plans to close another at Gilbert and Fairchild once the new location opens.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is also recommending the City Council approve a Special Use Permit that would allow a gaming parlor in the Plaza 31 building at 3124 North Vermilion Street. Heartland Properties says the business would have six gaming machines. Alcohol would also be available. The Commission voted 3 to 1 to forward the Special Use Permit request to the city council for action.
The City of Danville also hopes to see new development on the southeast corner of Vermilion and Fairchild Street. The City has approximately two acres of land that will be available there. First, however, an environmental clean-up of the site is necessary. The City of Danville earlier secured grant money for the clean-up but the work will likely not begin until next year.
