Planning commission recommends approval of Chick‑fil‑A PUD amendment with landscaping and ADA conditions

Englewood City’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 5 voted unanimously to recommend that City Council approve a planned unit development (PUD) amendment for the Chick‑fil‑A at 3085 South Broadway that would add two canopies over the drive‑through and create a vehicle bypass lane.

The recommendation, passed 8‑0, directs staff to forward PUD amendment ZON2024‑005 to City Council with three conditions: protect the view of a mural on the north side of the site, preserve or provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access along the Broadway sidewalk where the PUD would move a screen wall closer to the walk, and incorporate the landscaping revisions that staff recommended but which were not displayed at the hearing. The commission’s vote followed presentations from city staff, the applicant and two public commenters.

Brooke Bell, senior planner with Englewood City’s Community Development Department, described the site as approximately 1.18 acres at the northwest corner of Dartmouth and South Broadway and summarized the proposal: “the request tonight is for a PUD amendment for construction of 2 canopies over the drive through and additional paving along Broadway, for a vehicle bypass lane near the drive through window.” Bell said the existing PUD was originally approved in 2013 and recorded in 2014 and that the restaurant opened in 2017.

City staff recommended approval with a specific landscape condition: replace three street trees being removed along Broadway by adding three replacement trees on the Dartmouth side and adding two 2.5‑inch‑caliper trees—one each north and south of the proposed bypass lane—so there would be a net loss of only one tree while increasing planting density along Broadway.

Parker Bridal of Bardhousen Consulting Engineers, representing Chick‑fil‑A, told commissioners the canopies are intended to protect employees and patrons from sun and rain and to improve on‑site circulation. Bridal said the design keeps a brick screen wall of the same height but slightly relocated to accommodate the bypass lane, and that no sidewalk work is proposed: “We’re not changing the sidewalk along either frontage,” he said.

Daniel Andrews, the owner‑operator of the Englewood location, provided on‑site data during public comment: “Our current drive through percentage of sales is about 61% of the business. That looks like about 86 to 91 cars per hour on average.” Andrews said adding a second lane and widening the entrance would add capacity on site and reduce rare instances when cars back up to Acoma.

Two public speakers raised concerns about tree loss and pedestrian comfort. William Day, a resident at 202 East Dartmouth Ave., urged the commission to consider pedestrian shade and questioned whether trees planted on Dartmouth would provide meaningful shade for walkers on Broadway: “By removing 3 of those trees along Broadway, the ones on Dartmouth don’t seem to actually provide any shade to anyone walking on Broadway,” Day said.

Commission discussion focused on three themes: tree placement and sightlines for a mural on the building’s wall, ensuring sidewalk passability and ADA access given the relocated screen wall and the existing light pole in the sidewalk, and whether the landscaping changes would be maintained. Commissioners and staff agreed they could add or adjust trees on site to balance shade and mural visibility; staff and the applicant said they had revised the landscape plan to add the two caliper trees staff recommended and to replace the three removed trees on Dartmouth.

The Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation is advisory; the PUD amendment will go to Englewood City Council for final action, with the council public hearing noted by staff to be scheduled for Sept. 2, 2025. The applicant said construction work is external to the building and the restaurant should remain open during installation.

Votes at a glance

- ZON2024‑005 (Chick‑fil‑A PUD amendment, 3085 S. Broadway): Motion to recommend approval to City Council with conditions passed 8‑0 (Mister Haggerty, Miss Austin, Mister Montiel, Mister Ruttle, Miss Hupka, Mister Renson, Mister Kaplan, Chair Martinez — recorded yes).