Another Drive-Thru Chick-fil-A for the District?

• September 6, 2017

by Nena Perry-Brown

West rendering of the proposed Chick-fil-A

In late May, Chick-fil-A opened its first drive-thru location in the District near the H Street Corridor, and shortly thereafter, reports about heavy and disruptive traffic as a result of the fast-food drive-thru began to surface. Nearly four months later, the Fort Lincoln retail center has applied to deliver another Chick-fil-A with a drive-thru that hopefully won’t result in the same traffic problems.

The development team behind the Shops at Dakota Crossing, a 440,000 square-foot shopping plaza that is part of the larger Villages at Dakota Crossing off South Dakota Avenue and New York Avenue NE (map) has filed plans with the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) to fulfill a signed lease for a new Chick-fil-A by delivering a location with a drive-thru.

While fast-food establishments are matter-of-right in this particular mixed-use zone, installing a drive-thru requires a special exception from the BZA. Although the shopping center has a wide array of retail stores already open or in the pipeline, there are few food establishments.

The new Chick-fil-A would have nearly 5,000 square feet of space, some outdoor seating, and two separate drive-thru lanes in order to take and fulfill orders. According to the application, the configuration and placement of the site lends itself well to having a drive-thru establishment that won’t impede traffic flow.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/another_drive-thru_chick-fil-a_for_the_district/12970