By spring, hungry people traveling on McKnight Road will be able to choose between two Mexican-style restaurants across the street from one another.

Ross commissioners recently approved a site plan submitted by GKK Capital, of Pittsburgh, to build a Chipotle Restaurant at 4861 McKnight Road.

Qdoba Mexican Grill operates at 4860 McKnight Road.

Both restaurants specialize in foods like burritos and quesadillas.

Lawyer Jonathan Kamin, representing the developer of Chipotle Restaurant, told Commissioner Grant Montgomery that it was chance that the new 2,400-square-foot eatery was being built near a competitor.

Chipotle will replace a gas station just south of the intersection of McKnight and Siebert roads.

Construction on the restaurant is to start in about 60 days with the grand opening expected in early spring 2009.

The new business will have more than the 24 parking spaces required under the township building code, Mr. Kamin said.

The property is in a C-1 commercial zoning district.

In other business at its Aug. 11 meeting, commissioners agreed to consider an ordinance that would ban the feeding of wild animals.

Commissioner Chris Eyster proposed the measure, describing it as a first step to control the burgeoning deer population in Ross.

The no-feeding rule would apply to animals such as deer, raccoons and coyotes, he said. It would not stop residents from setting up bird feeders, he said.

Solicitor Bonnie Brimmeier will research the issue, including the question of whether a township can impose such restrictions or whether that power rests with the state government. She will report to commissioners on her findings during a future workshop meeting.

Mr. Eyster and Commissioners Lana Mazur and Peter Ferraro were appointed to a special committee to negotiate a new contract with the township's clerical workers. The commissioners will be joined by Manager Tom Lavorini in the labor talks.