UPDATE: Planning Commission tables decision on future of Chick-Fil-A in Palm Springs
On Wednesday, the Palm Springs planning commission chose to hit the pause button on granting a conditional use permit that will likely lead to the construction of a new Chick-Fill-A restaurant. Among the concerns, highlighted by the commission, were questions over the impact of traffic and asking for further info from staffing in the original environmental impact report before moving forward.
According to the planning commission staff report, the request is from Lilac 19, the owners of The Springs Shopping Center, and will include the demolition of an existing building and construction of a “quick service restraint named Chick-Fil-A” with a drive-thru located at 5200 E. Ramon Road.
On December 11th, the Planning Commission will be considering a request for a Conditional Use Permit that would allow construction of a new Chick-fil-A drive-through restaurant at The Springs shopping plaza. The Commission’s review will focus on ensuring that the application complies with the City’s Zoning Code, and that the development is compatible with surrounding uses and provides good site circulation. The public will have the opportunity to provide comments to the Commission during the meeting.
Statement provided from Christopher Hadwin
Planning Director
According to the staffing report, the restraint will be 5,707 square feet in size with seventy-eight indoor and twenty-four outdoor seats and three drive-through lanes. The staffing report also lists, that once completed the restaurant will create 15-35 new jobs once operating.
Dan T. Cathy is listed as the Chief Executive Officer as recorder in the attached certified company resolution of corporate officers in the staffing reports. The name has created some controversy among the LGBTQ+ community. In 2012, Cathy said he was “guilty as charged” for backing anti-same-sex marriage initiatives.
News Channel 3 reached out to Chic-Fil-A and received the following statement.
“Unfortunately, there is a lot of misunderstanding about our giving, policies, and how we operate. We take those concerns very seriously and understand there are people who have questions about our commitment and approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage them to visit chick-fil-.com/dei.
-Chick-fil-A Spokesperson
At all of the places where we do business, we welcome the opportunity to earn the right to demonstrate our genuine commitment to inclusion, creating places were all are cared for and welcomed.”
"It matters to me that everybody is cared for and everybody is valued."
Among those presenting before the Palm Springs Planning Commission regarding the adoption of a conditional use permit for the process of bringing a Chick-FIll-A to Palm Springs, was David Peck. Mr. Peck is the operator of the Chick-Fill-A restaurant in Palm Desert. In his presentation he mentioned plans to bring a Chick-Fill-A to Indio and La Quinta.
"It's a great opportunity for Chick-Fill-A to grow in this area and I think it'll be great fantastic," Peck said in a interview with News Channel 3 prior to the start of the Planning Commission meeting.
During the Planning Commission meeting there were no public comments made against the Chick-Fill-A
One of the issues the Palm Springs Planning Commission raised regarding the to development was how the new restaurant will impact traffic. Three members of the Planning Commission objected to moving forward on a vote without hearing more from staffing regarding the possibility of parking.
"I don't think there will be any more traffic concerns with our restaurant Palm Springs than there are is on Ramon road."
News Channel 3 is told this is by no means the final say so on the development, and will continue to follow this story going forward.
