Planning Commission approves Chick-fil-A with conditions, reduced drive-thru
The 5-2 decision came after lengthy discussions about the environmental impact of drive-thru establishments and their compatibility with the city’s climate action and sustainability initiatives.
The Palm Springs Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant at The Springs Shopping Center Tuesday, but asked for a reduction in the proposed drive-thru from three lanes to two after debating sustainability goals and pedestrian safety.
The 5-2 decision came after lengthy discussions about the environmental impact of drive-thru establishments and their compatibility with the city’s climate action and sustainability initiatives. The permit passed in a divided vote, with several commissioners expressing reluctance to approve additional drive-thru facilities in the city.
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“If I’m saying yes, I want to be conservative about it,” said Chair Kathy Weremiuk, who led the motion to approve the application with the reduced drive-thru configuration.
The approved plan will demolish the existing building and replace it with a 5,700-square-foot quick-service restaurant featuring 78 indoor seats and 24 outdoor seats. The project’s traffic impact assessment showed the development would generate 640 fewer daily trips than originally anticipated in the 2005 environmental impact report for the shopping center.
Commissioner Robert Rotman, who voted against the project, stated, “I don’t think a drive-thru is the right answer for Palm Springs. We had a lot of discussion about the uniqueness of Palm Springs, about maintaining the architectural integrity of Palm Springs. Personally, I don’t think having another nationwide drive-thru contributes to that.”
Several commissioners raised concerns about Palm Springs’ sustainability commitments being at odds with approving additional drive-thru establishments, which encourage idling vehicles and auto-centric transportation.
“Palm Springs has put a lot of time and effort into developing a standard sustainability plan, a Climate Action Plan, a non-motorist plan, and all of that is being thrown out the window,” Rotman added.
Applicant representatives countered that the drive-thru design would actually reduce idling time. David Peck, operator of Chick-fil-A Palm Desert, testified that the multi-lane design would improve efficiency.
The commission’s approval included several conditions, including a wayfinding plan for the shopping center and requirements for the shopping center to address longstanding landscaping problems.
The conditional use permit approval includes a 12-month check-in after occupancy to evaluate traffic patterns and address any issues that might arise with the two-lane configuration. The project will next move to the Architectural Review Committee for final design approval.
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