Dozens protest, Chick-fil-A is denied

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Dozens protest, Chick-fil-A is denied

By BETH WARREN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/08/08

After protests by dozens of residents, a Snellville appeals board voted Tuesday night to block a Chick-fil-A restaurant from opening up an entrance onto a residential road.

Currently, the only way to enter and exit the restaurant at 2211 Westridge Drive, is via the heavily-traveled U.S. 78. Business owners wanted to also allow access from a side road, Westridge Drive, to prevent a backup on the highway.

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A city official erroneously gave the eatery permission in May for a curb cut to Westridge Drive. By June, Chick-fil-A had already forked out $40,000 to construct the new entrance and exit, which has never been used.

Residents saw construction underway on their street and called City Hall to complain since there had never been a public hearing on the matter.

Acting Planning Director Jason Thompson said he made a mistake by granting the restaurant permission for the curb cut.

Thompson, employed by the city for just two years, later realized the restaurant had previously been denied a curb cut when the eatery was constructed in 1987. That means restaurant officials should have applied in writing for a variance — a request that would have required a public hearing.

After realizing his mistake in June, Thompson ordered large orange construction barricades and cones to block access to the new entrance until the controversy could be settled by the Board of Appeals.

During Tuesday's public hearing, several residents spoke out against the new entrance, successfully urging the board to reject the variance.

Residents who live on or near Westridge Drive said there are no speed bumps in their subdivisions and speeding is already a problem.

Westridge Drive snakes through neighborhoods, forming a horseshoe that leads back to U.S. 78 further east.

Glenda Yarbrough, who has lived on Westridge Drive for 17 years, said the road is already narrow and hilly without sidewalks. She said she worries about the safety of toddlers, children on bicycles and teen-agers on skateboards.

"This is a recipe for disaster," she said.

It wasn't immediately known whether Chick-fil-A will appeal the decision and what will become of the new entranceway.

After the board voted 4-1 to deny the curb cut, residents loudly applauded and cheered. On their way out of City Hall some talked about being hungry. One man suggested eating at Chick-fil-A.

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Comments

By POOKIE

Jul 11, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

I agree with you "sheila" but if there is a median cut for the entrance to Westridge Drive, then there will not be a great influx of traffic coming from the CFA. And the property value will really drop when it becomes a Title Pawn/Max like the old Hardee's did.

By sheila

Jul 10, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this

A business has no right or business dumping its traffic overflow into a residential neighborhood reguardless of who it is. Thats the way you damage homes and property. Just take a look on North Road. Not fit for living.

By Paul

Jul 10, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

I hope Chick-fil-A closes the Westridge Drive store and relocates to a nearby area...and then sells the location to THE LOVE SHACK (or other similar "tobacco" company)!! I know if I owned this spot, that's exactly what I would do. What would those protesting morons think of that?!? All CFA wanted was another entrance/exit...they better pray mighty hard that CFA doesn't close!!

By RV

Jul 10, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Back under the rock from whence you came fine sir.

Seems you don't know when to STFU either

... classic examples of what a Shiloh education will get you :)

By Salt

Jul 10, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Search your own motives, people.

How many of your anti-CFA thoughts are remotely connected to Mr. Cathey's religion?

If any, you are a religious bigot, just like the people you hate.

Only you know if this describes you, but be honest with yourselves.

Love to all.

By RV is a CFA Tool

Jul 10, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

LOL@RV You don't live in the neighborhood either yet you keep adding fuel to the fire. Back under the rock from whence you came fine sir.

By RV Hater

Jul 10, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Seems you don't know when to STFU either.

By RV

Jul 10, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

This blog just keeps getting better and better. The "concerned citizens" of this so called "neighborhood" are now giving directions for more traffic through their subdivision through an AJC blog. You really don't know when to shut up, do you?

By Leigh

Jul 10, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I have no respect for Chick-Fila. I am also sick of their stupid advertising with cows. I taught a class at their facility and they are so so cheap. I guess I just know too much about "them".

By SkzDaLimit

Jul 10, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

To GRILL MASTER:

No one is doubting the integrity of CFA and the amount of work they have done to the community. I live in Westridge/Sussex Court and eat at this CFA often and applaud the work they do for the community.

Our point is the amount of commercial traffic that is going to be routed through our neighborhood had the cut been allowed to stay. We have no sidewalks and the streets are pretty narrow as it is.

All it's going to take is one person with a cup of coffee and a chicken biscuit crammed down their throat in a hurry trying to wind their way back to Hwy 78 before something happens. We have already had several serious accidents in our neighborhood, one which almost took the life of a teenager.

Do I think that denying the curb cut is going to make any difference? Nope. If someone wants to race through the neighborhood to catch the light at McGee/Cambridge, they're going to do it if they choose to and I can't do anything to stop it.

The City of Snellville should seriously consider at the very least, speed bumps in the neighborhood. And also reimbursing CFA for the cost of restoring the curb. After all, it was their mistake in not researching the matter far enough back to see the original agreement that no curb cuts would be allowed in that area in the first place.

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