The Olive Garden restaurant submitted plans with the city of Bend on March 16 to build a 7,441-square-foot restaurant just off U.S. Highway 97 at the north end of the city, according to Amy Barry, associate planner. The plans were incomplete, but Barry expects Olive Garden to submit a complete package within days. Olive Garden also filed for a building permit the same day, she said.

The restaurant chain, which is owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc., plans to open approximately 70 new restaurants this year, according to its most recent earnings report, released March 17. “At this point, Olive Garden does not have a contract to put an Olive Garden in the Bend community,” said Mara Frazier, a company spokeswoman. Frazier declined further comment.

The restaurant would be located southeast of the Staples store, on the west side of U.S. Highway 97, according to plans filed with the city.