A new Taco Bell at the South Mall has been recommended for approval by the Salisbury Township Planning Commission.

The 6-0 vote, with one planner absent at the Aug. 25 meeting, recommended the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners approve the project.

The Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board approved the Taco Bell project at its April 11 meeting.

The Taco Bell will replace an existing Taco Bell restaurant at the same location, 3380 Lehigh St.

In his Aug. 15 review letter, which he referred to at the Aug. 25 meeting, Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc., listed 12 comments, several of which he detailed for planners’ consideration.

The planners voted 6-0 to approve several variances and one deferral as part of the overall approval.

The variances included combining the preliminary and final plan, not having to submit an erosion and sedimentation control plan to the Lehigh County Conservation District, minimum centerline separation (75 foot required; 70 foot requested), driveway entrance curb radius (25 foot required; 10 foot shown) and the placement of five shade trees.

The deferral was for sidewalks.

Salisbury Township Planning and Zoning Officer Kerry H. Rabold said her Aug. 18 review letter echoed Tettemer’s letter. Rabold noted the approvals given by zoners.

The new building will conform to the dimensions of the existing building.

Tettemer recommended additional stop signs.

Joe DePascale, development manager, Summerwood Corp., Conshohocken, Montgomery County, said the developer would comply.

Summerwood, which manages 190 Taco Bells in six states, is the operating company of the Taco Bell at the South Mall.

Oak Restaurants, LLC, Conshohocken, is the leasee.

The project is handled by The Pettit Group, LLC, Sewell, N.J.

The building, which will be parallel to Lehigh Street, will have two drive-thru lanes.

The existing Taco Bell has a single drive-thru lane.

The new 2,722-square-foot restaurant will seat 52 inside and 13 outside.

Operating hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. drive-thru and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. inside.

The 0.83-acre site is on the north side of Lehigh Street. The property is in the C3 General Commercial Zoning District.

The Taco Bell, which has been at the South Mall since 1988, will be demolished to make way for the new building.