The approved Menards plans include a single entrance on Nicollet and sidewalks on three sides of the site. (City of Richfield drawing).

Final plans for a new two-story Menards store at the corner of 77th and Nicollet were approved by the Richfield City Council on Tuesday night, clearing the way for the company to tear down the old Jun Bo restaurant and its existing store and build new.

City Planner Melissa Poehlman told the council the company had agreed to several changes in its initial plan that will satisfy concerns about traffic congestion at parking lot entrances and pedestrian safety. The revised plan also adds room for a bus shelter on the corner of 77th and Nicollet, where the city will provide a covered shelter.

What the plan approved Tuesday does not provide is space at the same corner for a new Burger King and a 21st Century Bank, a proposal made during a public hearing on the project during meeting.

Greg Dolphin, who owns the Burger King restaurant at 78th Street West and Second Avenue South, told the council it should delay Menards' plans so a deal to put a better development plan in place can be negotiated.

While Mayor Debbie Goettel and Councilmember Sue Sandahl both said they preferred Dolphin's proposed use for the site, it drew fire from Councilmember Pat Elliott, who said he was "severely distressed" by the Burger King group's last-minute attempt to stall the project. He pointed out there were several opportunities for Burger King to propose a different plan earlier.

"I'm not going to vote to reconsider" the council's earlier approvals for the Menards plan, he said, "and I'm not going to vote for your plan."

Councilmember Tom Fitzhenry said Burger King appeared to be using the council as a bargaining lever in negotiations with Menards.

The council voted unanimously in favor of the Menards plan.