Planning commission approves Chick‑fil‑A with conditions, including two fewer parking stalls and signage review

The Chico Planning Commission on April 3 approved a use permit and architectural review for a new Chick‑fil‑A restaurant at a vacant parcel on Forest Avenue, subject to conditions that include removing two parking stalls along the site’s southern edge, lowering parking‑lot light standards to 18 feet and requiring the sign package to be approved by city staff before issuance of building permits.

Associate Planner Madison Driscoll presented the project as “a request to authorize a quick service restaurant with a two‑lane drive‑through” on a site located along Forest Avenue between East 20th Street and Bany Lane within the city’s regional commercial zoning and the Twentieth Street Corridor opportunity site. The proposed building is 4,666 square feet, with 82 vehicle parking spaces, 10 bicycle parking spaces and drive‑through queuing for up to 42 vehicles.

The commission’s action follows questions from members about site layout, landscaping and environmental review. Commissioner Wolf and others pressed the applicant and staff on vehicle–pedestrian circulation, the amount and placement of parking, perimeter landscaping and whether the project qualified for a categorical CEQA exemption for infill development. Staff recommended adopting Planning Commission Resolution 25‑04 and said the project is categorically exempt from further environmental review under the infill exemption (CEQA Guidelines §15332) because the disturbed portion of the site is under five acres.

Chick‑fil‑A representative Christine Cho described the company’s local business model and community focus, saying the operator model produces “a small local business” and that the restaurant expects to employ about 100 to 120 local residents. Jennifer Kirby, the project civil engineer with Kimley‑Horn, responded to accessibility and circulation questions and explained the site contains a secondary pedestrian route that “only crosses the travel lanes once,” intended to reduce pedestrian–vehicle conflicts.

Commissioners requested and the applicant agreed to small changes to the site design. The applicant offered to remove two parking stalls in the middle of the south parking area and add a center finger planter with an additional shade tree. Staff and the applicant also agreed the sign package would be finalized and reviewed by the city prior to building‑permit issuance, and that light standards would be limited to 18 feet.

On the environmental exemption, principal planner Mike Sully reiterated staff’s position that the project qualifies for the infill exemption because the portion of the site to be disturbed is about 1.15 acres even though the assessor parcel is slightly over six acres. Sully also said public‑works staff had reviewed broader circulation information provided by the larger center developer and that the city had taken an expanded traffic look at the parcel map for the larger center.

The commission voted to approve the project with the added conditions. The motion was made by Chair Scott and seconded by Commissioner Wall; the motion passed with four votes in favor, one against and one absence.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25‑04: Approve Use Permit 24‑08 and Architectural Review 24‑05 (Chick‑fil‑A, Forest Avenue pad). Motion: adopt resolution 25‑04 approving the requested use permit and architectural review subject to staff conditions plus amendment to remove two parking stalls along the south property line and add a center planter, limit light standards to 18 feet, and require staff approval of the sign package prior to building permit issuance. Mover: Chair Scott. Second: Commissioner Wall. Vote tally (recorded): Yes — Commissioner Wolff, Commissioner Wall, Commissioner Laffins, Chair Scott (4); No — Vice Chair Scarpa (1); Absent — Commissioner Baikerk Kauffman (1). Outcome: approved.

What’s next The applicant said it is coordinating with the developer of the larger shopping center on frontage and off‑site improvements; Chick‑fil‑A estimated a tentative opening in the first half of 2026. Signage and final details of landscaping, lighting and certain site adjustments will be reviewed in the building‑permit stage and by the city’s sign/code administrators before construction permits are issued.

Notes The project site is shown in staff materials as divided into three parcels (northeast parcel for Chick‑fil‑A, southeast for Tommy’s Car Wash, and a western future retail pad). Staff reported no public comments on the application prior to the hearing.