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FLEMINGTON -- Do you hear the bell toll? It's tolling for tacos and many other staple items of a popular food chain -- one that is in the process of finding a home in Flemington Borough.
Flemington Borough's Zoning Hearing Board recently approved a variance to an ordinance, which might just pave the way for a popular drive-thru franchise, Taco Bell, to call the municipality home.
On Tuesday night, the board held a public hearing regarding a request from Charter Central LLC on behalf of Taco Bell for a property along High Street in the borough.
The request was to reduce the required number of parking spaces at a commercial property from 26 to 17 at 559 High St.
Frederick, "Fritz" Alderman, P.E., senior project manager of Karpinski Engineering based in Ohio attended the public hearing.
"I was at the hearing (Tuesday) night and I must say the area is beautiful and I enjoyed meeting the people there," Alderman said.
According to borough Secretary Charity Walizer-Etters, the next step will be reviewing designs for the property.
"The (borough) engineer will be looking at technical aspects of the design next," she said.
Alderman directed The Express to Charter Central LLC for further information regarding a potential timeline for construction and other details.
A request for information was not immediately answered as of press time Wednesday night.
The quest to have a Taco Bell located in Clinton County has been an on-going fight for some residents.
Clinton County is sandwiched between two counties that have locations -- Lycoming and Centre.
These include one location along East Third Street in Williamsport; and three locations in State College -- one along Benner Pike, another along Rolling Ridge Drive and the last along North Atherton Street.
The Express was able to find two separate petitions on change.org regarding the individuals' wish to see a location closer to home -- one in 2019 and another in 2021.
"It is too far to drive to Williamsport and State College, so sign this petition to get one in Lock Haven," the petition from 2019 stated. The creator, Michael Snook, was able to get almost all 25 signatures he was looking for -- with 20 currently listed.
The second petition, created by Tyrion Colpetzer in 2021, was looking for 200 signatures and received 134.
"Hello people of Lock Haven or Mill Hall. We all know the struggles of getting some Taco Bell around here. We always have to drive to Williamsport or State College just to get a taco," Colpetzer wrote.
"We all know their (Taco Bell) food is great, and we want it. But we have McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, even Burger King in Flemington, but no Taco Bell," he continued. "I'm sure everyone has had the struggle on what to eat and I feel a Taco Bell would solve this for us."