SANFORD, N.C. — Plans for two popular national restaurant chains are moving into technical review as commercial development continues at Adams Village along North Carolina Highway 87.
The Sanford-Lee County Planning Board’s Technical Review Committee is scheduled to examine proposals for an Olive Garden and a LongHorn Steakhouse at the mixed-use development near Walmart.
Planning documents describe a 5,600-square-foot LongHorn Steakhouse and a 6,350-square-foot Olive Garden, each located on a separate outparcel. The committee will also review plans for a 3,500-square-foot Aspen Dental office on a third outparcel.
Another Step for Adams Village
Adams Village was first announced in 2022 as a combination residential and commercial development. Current plans call for 250 single-family lots, 231 townhome lots and more than 30 acres of commercial property accessible from N.C. 87.
Olive Garden had previously been identified as one of several national businesses considering the development. Its appearance on the September Technical Review Committee agenda, along with LongHorn Steakhouse, represents another planning step for the property.
The committee includes representatives from various city and county departments who review commercial, residential and industrial proposals for compliance with applicable development codes and government requirements.
Review Does Not Guarantee Construction
Technical review is an early part of the development process. Submission of the plans does not guarantee that the restaurants will be constructed, and neither chain has announced an opening date for a Sanford location.
Other items on the committee’s September agenda include two proposed 110,500-square-foot light-industrial buildings near the Central Carolina Enterprise Industrial Park, a new version of the Oakton housing subdivision on Colon Road and a proposed Mako Express Car Wash in the Tramway area.
If the restaurant proposals continue moving forward, they would add two major dining brands to the growing residential and commercial corridor along N.C. 87.
Source: The Rant, citing plans submitted to the Sanford-Lee County Planning Department.
