Del Taco Permit Approved, Restaurant Expected to Open This Year

A Del Taco restaurant could open later this year on Huntington Drive after the planning commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the chain on Wednesday.

Craig Jimenez, Monrovia's principal planner, said the Del Taco drive-through could be open in about six to eight months.

The fast food chain has more than 550 restaurants in 17 states and serves more than three million people per week, according to the company's website.

Jimenez said no one spoke in opposition to the Del Taco at the meeting, though it received a mixed reaction from Patch readers earlier this week. Here's a round-up of some of the comments:

• Heather S.: I would rather have Del Taco than Taco Bell any day.
• Stephen McCarthy: Just what we need, more corporate slop. Why not just fput out a giant trough w/all the logos on it? Nothing like adding to more of the blight on Huntington.
• Linda Moca: I would have loved to see a Pollo Loco instead...or even a Carls Jr.! We drive to Duarte frequently, for these two establishments.
• John Luiten: Can't wait its about time
• Heidi Haskins: You've got to be kidding me. Not another unhealthy fast food restaurant! When will it stop? Why are we so clueless to the fact that fast food is contributing to our spiraling health as a society? Healthcare reform (or healthcare in general) will not help anything unless we stop eating crap. We are what we eat...