Committee seeks automatic‑door additions, brings back Chick‑fil‑A exterior changes in one week

Members of the committee reviewed a proposal to alter a ground‑floor unit in the First National Building at 660 Woodward Avenue (Cadillac Square) to accommodate a Chick‑fil‑A outlet and asked staff to return next week with confirmed accessibility changes.

Jamie Murphy of City Planning Commission staff walked members through the proposal: “The proposal is to take out the rightmost window and make it into a door, and then also put in some steps and a ramp because the floor level there doesn’t isn’t even with the sidewalk,” and to install two wall signs plus a projecting sign. Murphy noted the Historic District Commission had already approved the exterior changes and that planning staff recommended approval.

Committee members raised concerns about universal access, asking whether the new door would include automatic openers. Director Todd offered to consult the developer and building owner and requested a one‑week bring‑back so the committee could see updated drawings or conditions requiring automatic door openers. Todd said, “If that is the committee's desire, I think in order to do it most cleanly, if they would wanna bring this back in 1 week, it'll give us the opportunity to express your desires to both the developer operator as well as the building owner and make sure that everything is in place to achieve this.”

The committee voted to bring the item back in one week so staff can confirm whether automatic door openers and other accessibility modifications will be included or required in the project’s conditions of approval.