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Council approves first reading for Chick‑fil‑A relocation after traffic study and public questions
Summary
Developers presented a plan to relocate a Chick‑fil‑A to an existing shopping center site; city council approved first reading after reviewing traffic‑analysis improvements, while residents and councilmembers pressed for clarifications on peak‑season queuing and nearby Walmart changes.
Developers seeking to relocate a Chick‑fil‑A to a former TGI Friday’s site along Highway 17 presented updated plans and a traffic study to the North Myrtle Beach City Council; the council approved the project on first reading and will revisit the application at second reading.
Adam Nelson (speaker 17), the applicant, said the team returned after a workshop with more detailed answers. Civil engineer Richard Scott (speaker 18) summarized a traffic analysis recommending a dedicated left‑turn lane into the site, widening the driveway, and periodic closure of a southern driveway to add about 300 feet of peak‑season stacking capacity. Scott told the council the changes would reduce average wait time in the morning from 16 seconds to about 13 seconds and limit midday queuing to an average of about seven cars under worst‑case seasonal conditions.
Store operator Jeff Cash (speaker 13) described on‑site management measures—traffic directors, cones and staffing—to keep vehicles moving and said the relocation would benefit about 125 employees and improve safety by keeping parking and queuing on site.
Councilmembers questioned midday queueing and urged the applicant to work with SCDOT on signal timing. Resident Debbie Lombardino (speaker 12) asked whether the traffic study (conducted in October) accounted for recent Walmart expansion and online pickup changes; the project team said seasonal adjustments and DOT peaking factors were applied and that a local traffic engineer (Rob Wilfong, speaker 20) supported the safety improvements, noting the larger footprint would keep more traffic on site.
Council discussed additional items including wayfinding signage, right‑turn incentives, and the possibility that DOT’s future safety median plan could restrict left turns at nearby intersections; staff said they would continue coordination with DOT. The council approved the ordinance on first reading; Mayor Baldwin said it will return for a second reading at a future meeting.
