The news that a Wendy’s is coming to Rincon is generating a lot of buzz.

A team from HeidtBurns Real Estate came before Rincon Council Monday night to request preliminary site plan approval for a new Wendy’s to be located behind the Gate gas station at the intersection of Columbia Avenue and Fort Howard Road.

Chris Heidt told council members that Wendy’s is ready to move forward on construction and that they have already had meetings with city planning. An opening is planned for late 2010.

Because that location is such a high traffic area, there were concerns about ingress and egress. Heidt told council they had changed their plans to include an entrance/exit at the rear of the property onto Highway 21, which would help eliminate most of the traffic worries.

Council member Paul Wendelken also brought up the possibilities of Fort Howard Road being four-laned in the future, as well as Lexington Street being extended into Lisa Street. He said he also wanted to make sure that Wendy’s was aware of those scenarios. Heidt said they were aware of these things and he thought that the changes they had made in their plans would preclude any future issues.

“I am happy that Wendy’s is coming to Rincon,” Wendelken said. “My family and I love Wendy’s. City Council is on the constant lookout for other restaurants and businesses that want to come to a place like Rincon. I know the public will be excited over this, also.”

Mayor Ken Lee laughed when he said that he had some concerns about potential traffic issues at that location, and said his wife and family would “throw him out” if he did anything to delay construction.