Commission approves Chick‑fil‑A plan to create two full drive‑through lanes; applicant to replant front trees and relocate transformer

The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 24 approved a site plan amendment at 1757 South Friendswood Drive that formalizes two full drive‑through lanes for the Chick‑fil‑A restaurant. Aubrey (planning staff) explained the existing site currently has a single drive‑through lane that becomes two lanes and that the amendment removes part of a landscape island to permit two full lanes. Staff said the applicant's revised calculations continue to meet minimum landscape requirements and that the landscape buffer trees along South Friendswood Drive had died during a recent freeze and must be replaced. One commissioner questioned the selection of bald cypress as a street tree in the narrow planting strip, calling the species 'deciduous' and noting its winter appearance would reduce year‑round screening. Aubrey confirmed the proposed species appear on the city's approved tree list and that tree species substitutions could be made administratively if the applicant chose to do so. Avery Hollabaugh of JLL, representing the applicant, told the commission the project team would relocate a transformer and "cut into the existing" curb to increase the turn radius on the back of the drive‑through. She said engineers ran vehicle turn studies and the adjustments should accommodate truck and vehicle movements. One commissioner asked whether the design change would speed service. Commissioners and staff said the record at the meeting did not quantify customer wait times; the transcript contains a comment that two trucks driving through could remain tight until the applicant makes the planned radius adjustment. The commission voted to approve the site plan amendment. The transcript records the motion, a second and an approval by voice vote; no roll‑call tally appears in the record. Details recorded in the discussion: the approved plan removes part of a landscape island but retains overall compliance with landscape ratios, proposes replanting front trees (plans show four bald cypress and eight sweetbay magnolias), and includes a transformer relocation to increase the rear turn radius. The applicant said engineers completed truck‑turn analyses to verify circulation.