A variance request by Chick-fil-A to demolish its existing restaurant on Ga. Highway 54 East at the Peachtree Crossing retail center and replace it with a smaller building and dual drive-thru lanes was approved by the Peachtree City Council Dec. 3 on a 4-1 vote.
Chick-fil-A had planned to demolish the building — first constructed in 1983 as a Hardee’s restaurant — and leave the area, until pleas by customers led to a decision to request variances and replace the outdated building with a smaller prototype building with dual drive-thru lanes on the .98-acre lot.
The current restaurant seats 110 while the replacement restaurant will seat 75 customers.
The variances were approved along with the condition of protecting existing trees along Dan Lakly Drive, but not without substantial conversation. Councilman Eric Imker cast the lone vote against the variance request.
The requested variances included reducing the building setback from the adjacent Dan Lakly Drive, reducing the drive-thru setback along Hwy. 54, reducing the drive-thru lane adjacent to Dan Lakly Drive and reducing the landscape buffer.
Planning staff noted the old building predated many of the existing ordinances and would require variances for the rebuilding. Staff proposed four conditions if the council approved the variances. Those included preserving vegetation on the west side of the property, the placement of required canopy and understory trees along Hwy. 54, protection of the existing trees along Dan Lakly Drive and the construction of a masonry wall adjacent to the drive-thru lane and parallel to Hwy. 54.
For Chick-fil-A, the issues included the size of the lot and the company’s need to outfit the property in a way that would accommodate the restaurant’s needs and those of customers.
Restaurant operator Mike Holmes in responding to aspects of the recommended conditions said, “I’m not here to argue, but to witness.”
Holmes said Chick-fil-A had decided not to rebuild the aging restaurant.
“The building is old and needs to be torn down. We weren’t going to rebuild but customers called, (with some) saying they would not cross Hwy. 74 (to eat at the new restaurant on Hwy. 74 West once constructed). So we looked at the viability of rebuilding,” Holmes said. “I’ve seen two people hit in the drive-thru.”
Company representatives said there are electrical issues dating from the time the restaurant was a Hardee’s restaurant and there are problems with the asphalt due to underground issues.
Calling the proposal a superior plan, Imker during the discussion said he nonetheless needed more information. Imker in the end was the sole opposing vote against the measure.
Councilman Mike King weighed in on the topic, hoping that a compromise could be worked out that would prevent the restaurant from “going dark.”
Councilwoman Kim Learnard noted that, if approved by the council, the matter of the conditions for approval would have to be addressed by the Planning Commission.
City Manager Jon Rorie responding to questions during the discussion said variance requests are heard by the council, with planning commissioners dealing with other issues.
“Planning doesn’t give recommendations for approving or denying variances. On variances they give opinions,” Rorie said.
Comments from the public saw a few people opposed to the variance requests and one in favor.
John Dufresne in his comments said he did not believe Chick-fil-A met the hardship requirements outlined in the ordinance.
“Granting this would be a special exception,” Dufresne said.
Also speaking against approval was Karen Russell, who noted the number of existing and planned Chick-fil-A restaurants in the city. Granting the variances would represent a slippery slope for redevelopment, she said.
