The Butler Township planning commission Tuesday recommended approval of a land development agreement for a new Kentucky Fried Chicken a few doors away from the restaurant’s current location on New Castle Road.

The plan is to build a larger, updated KFC at 218 New Castle Road that will replace the current restaurant at 212 New Castle Road.

Construction is expected to begin in March with the new restaurant opening in June.

“It’s a brighter, lighter look,” James Liguori, chief development officer for Ampex Brands of Richardson, Texas, which owns numerous KFC franchises, said about the new restaurant.

The new KFC will face New Castle Road and have a vehicle entrance and exit on that road. It will have drive-through service and an entrance in the rear of the ¾-acre lot on Alameda Road.

The current restaurant sits sideways on the lot.

Measuring 2,677 square feet, the new restaurant is a little larger than the current restaurant and will have about 55 employees, which is more than the 30 people employed at the existing restaurant, Liguori said.

“We think it will be much more favorable. Butler has been very good to us. We’re absolutely excited that we’ll have a brand new facility,” he said.

Liguori told the commission that the lease for the existing lot is about to expire and the owner, Garber Family L.P. of Santa Barbara, Calif., also owns the lot where the new store will be built. He said he believes the owner plans to demolish the existing restaurant.

The property is zoned for commercial use. The restaurant will have 24 parking spaces, which is two more than the zoning ordinance requires.