Richmond Taco Bell plans remodel

Richmond’s Design Review Board is set to consider a remodel of the Taco Bell at the southeast corner of 23rd Street and Barrett Avenue that aims to improve circulation in the drive-through and parking lot and implement minor exterior façade changes

The agenda for today’s meeting lists a request for a Design Review Permit covering site and landscaping upgrades and minor exterior façade changes at 2300 Barrett Ave., with staff recommending conditional approval. 

The site currently features a 2,243-square-foot, one-story Taco Bell with a drive-through, 27 parking spaces and two vehicular access points: one each on 23rd Street and Barrett Avenue. 

The remodel keeps one drive-through but adds a second queuing lane so cars can line up in two rows that merge into the same pickup window. Parking and driveways are reworked to make it easier to enter and exit: some stalls and islands are removed, three parallel spaces replace a row on the south side, and the drive-through exit gets textured pavement and stop controls to slow cars for pedestrians. The drive-through pavement is rebuilt and the rest of the lot gets a fresh overlay.

Landscaping and the building get a facelift. Old turf along 23rd and Barrett is swapped for drought-tolerant plants and four new trees, while the big street trees on Barrett stay. On the building, there’s a tiny bump-out for a new drive-through window plus a walk-up window (like adding a side pickup counter), fresh gray paint with purple accents to match Taco Bell branding, stucco touch-ups, a ne

w awning, updated signs, and subtle LED lighting under the roof trim.

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