Spring Hill planning commission rejects Chick‑fil‑A request to add employee parking

The Spring Hill Planning Commission voted 4–2 to reject a site plan modification by Chick‑fil‑A that would have added 10 employee parking spaces at the restaurant at 4885 Main Street.

Senior planner Mr. Spires told the commission staff recommended denial of SPM 17‑26‑2025 "based on issues with circulation," and outlined 14 standard and four site‑specific conditions that would apply if the commission chose to approve the application.

The recommendation mattered because commission members said the added spaces would worsen vehicle circulation inside the shopping complex, increase impervious surface and would not fully resolve employee parking needs — while proponents said on‑site parking would reduce unsafe crossings of Wilkes Road by teenage employees.

Drew Stokes, representing Civil and Environmental Consultants, said the change "would allow employees to park on‑site. It's a better safer alternative than parking across the street." Murray Collier, owner‑operator of the Spring Hill Chick‑fil‑A, said there are days when "28 to 30 team members" are on shift and that extra on‑site spaces would "truly be beneficial" for staff safety and operations.

Vice Chair Connolly and other commissioners questioned whether adding 10 spaces would actually help. Commissioner Connolly said the complex’s recent changes have favored drive‑through capacity and asked what portion of sales are drive‑through versus dine‑in; Collier estimated roughly 70% drive‑through and 30% dine‑in on average. Commissioners also noted that much of the surrounding complex closes by early evening, which affects parking availability for employees during peak hours.

Commissioners raised impervious‑surface concerns. A staff member and one commissioner said the zoning district allows up to 60% impervious area; the existing site was reported at about 61% and the proposed change would raise it to roughly 63%, increasing runoff and compounding previously observed drainage problems at the Wilkes Road intersection. One commissioner said the planning commission previously asked that a dental office be removed from the site to avert this very problem, and said Chick‑fil‑A opposed that change then.

Several commissioners said they were sympathetic to safety concerns but worried the modification would worsen circulation for customers and neighboring businesses. Alderman Maria Davis and Commissioner Groeninger both voted no; Commissioner Isabelle voted yes. Mayor Fitterer moved approval and Vice Chair Connolly seconded the motion but said he would vote against his own motion. The roll call recorded Groeninger: no; Isabelle: yes; Connolly: no; Alderman Maria Davis: no; Fitterer: no; Stroke: yes. The motion failed 4–2.

During debate some commissioners suggested alternative approaches — for example, adding a marked pedestrian crossing on Wilkes Road or returning with alternatives that would not increase impervious surface — and several said that, if additional spaces were approved in the future, they would require signage restricting them to employee parking only. The applicant said it would support employee‑only designation and that employee parking would be first‑come, first‑served.

No further action was taken at the meeting on this item.