City council approves Specific Use Permit for Chick-fil-A in north Rockwall

(ROCKWALL, TX — June 19, 2018) North Rockwall residents can look forward to eating more chicken after the city council unanimously approved a Specific Use Permit for a proposed second Chick-fil-A location during its regular meeting on Monday, June 18.

The proposed full-service restaurant will be located on the 1.4 acres of land situated at the southwest corner of North Lakeshore Drive and North Goliad Street, across the street from Kroger. The approximately 5,000 square-foot restaurant will have dual stacking drive through lanes accommodating about eight vehicles a piece. The dual lanes will narrow down to one lane accommodating approximately six vehicles, for an estimated total queuing capacity of 22 vehicles. A total of 22 parking spaces will be located on site at the restaurant.

The concept plan shows two entry points to the restaurant – one on North Lakeshore Drive and another on North Goliad Street via a mutual access easement with the property to the south.

Site perspectives for the proposed Chick-fil-A

The council welcomed comments during a public hearing on the proposed Chick-fil-A on Monday. Melissa Shaw, a Rockwall resident and elementary school counselor, voiced her support for the restaurant. She said Chick-fil-A has been a major advocate for all schools in Rockwall, and through its Core Essentials program helped the school district to provide $19,000 in scholarships to students this year.

“My attitude is Chick-fil-A’s not going anywhere. Whereas some of the other buildings that have been built on the north side are sitting empty or are still vacant, Chick-fil-A will be there and won’t be an empty building years from now,” Shaw said.

“There’s quite a void of fast food restaurants in that area,” said 14-year Rockwall resident Amy Fernandez during a public hearing on the proposed restaurant at the Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting on June 12. “I’m very active in the community and have a lot of friends in the area, and we’ve all been waiting on pins and needles for this Chick-fil-A to come. I realize traffic is a concern. We’re in a destination district and have been one of the fastest growing counties in the state for quite some time, so I think that’s just an ongoing issue we’re going to have deal with.”

Earlier this year, a proposed drive through only Chick-fil-A at the corner of South Goliad Street and Yellow Jacket Lane failed to gain approval, mainly due to traffic and parking concerns.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.

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