ALTUS — A rezoning was approved by the city council that will allow for a Wendy’s restaurant to open on Main Street.
The council made its decision July 11 at the council’s special meeting. The 1.2 acres at 2515 N. Main St. was rezoned from agriculture to an urban commercial district.
City Manager Gary Jones said a building at the address was used by the Western State College’s Baptist Student Union. However, the BSU has not recently used the building for their activities, Jones said.
Chick-fil-A and Starbucks have either located to Altus or made announcements to come to town.
“This shows there are multiple corporate entities wanting to locate here,” Jones said. “We try to be the hub of western Oklahoma and we’re on the path to do that. We’re addressing our issues” to make Altus a desirable city.
Jones specifically mentioned a multimillion-dollar project to renovate the Altus Reservoir, new walking and jogging trails, new housing subdivisions and a continuous water supply.
“It shows we’re willing to invest in our community,” Jones said.
It’s unclear when a groundbreaking or construction will begin for the restaurant, Jones said.
Mayor Robert Garrison believes a Wendy’s restaurant is a “very big thing” for Altus.
“It only makes our town better,” he said. “Any time you bring a business like that to town it says something big. We’re pumped.”
The rezoning application was filed by Heritage Partners Stonewall Road Restaurant Group of Farmers Branch, Texas.
As of June 5, all nearby residents had been notified by mail about the proposed rezoning, but no negative comments were made. As a result, Altus’ planning commission recommended the application be approved by the city council.
The city’s Comprehensive Plan recognizes North Main Street as a significant area for traffic and commerce so Auto Urban Commercial would be the appropriate zoning district for the parcel, the planning commission wrote in its recommendation to the council.