Council approves rezoning for 198 East McMillan, clearing way for proposed Chick-fil-A and related development

Cincinnati City Council voted to submit the official zoning map change for the property at 198 East McMillan Street and 237 William Howard Ave in Mount Auburn, approving a planned development that the applicant said will include a Chick-fil-A and related site improvements.

The council considered the rezoning after testimony from Uptown Rental Properties and a planning review. Patrice Burke of Uptown Rental Properties summarized the project and said the site has been a "surface parking lot for over 60 years" and that the company made architectural adjustments "to better comply with urban design guidelines." She urged council to approve the plan, saying the corner is better served by commercial amenities given its proximity to I-71.

The nut graf: Council debate focused on competing goals: some members and the applicant described the project as the highest-and-best use of a heavily auto-oriented corner, while others objected that a plan development allowing a drive-through fast-food restaurant worsens pedestrian safety and precludes residential uses that could have longer-term benefits.

Council member Jeffries, who introduced the item, said the project was the result of community engagement and that Uptown is a major area developer. Council member Owens said she believed the project "complements a housing area" and said it could bring "80 to 120" jobs as estimated by the applicant. Council member Nolan said the planning department found the application did not meet criteria for plan development and raised concerns that a drive-through would generate significantly more traffic than housing; he cited testimony that Chick-fil-A could see about "200 cars per hour" during peak times and "over 2,000 per day." Council member Albee also said she could not support using plan-development zoning for a largely auto-oriented design.

Council discussed pedestrian improvements added by the applicant, including crosswalks and landscape buffers. Supporters said these changes and the site's proximity to highway ramps make it unsuitable for residential development; opponents said the result would be a built form "that could be dropped in any neighborhood" rather than a bespoke, walkable design.

The ordinance to submit the zoning map for rezoning passed on roll call. Recorded votes: Council member Johnson yes; Vice Mayor Jan-Michelle Kearney yes; Council member Nolan no; Council member Owens yes; Council member Parks yes; Council member Walsh yes; Council member Albee no; Council member Kramer Ding yes; Council member Jeffries yes.

Council members asked staff and the applicant to continue community engagement on pedestrian treatments and neighborhood impacts going forward; no amendments or conditional approvals were recorded on the council floor.