Developers propose left‑turn lane and wayfinding signs for new Chick‑fil‑A site in North Myrtle Beach

Developers proposing to relocate Chick‑fil‑A within the Gator Hall planned development district told the North Myrtle Beach City Council at a workshop that they plan to add a dedicated left‑turn lane and large wayfinding signs to reduce left‑turn queueing and driver confusion.

Richard Scott, the civil engineer presenting the plan, said the proposed store would be larger than the current location and that the project includes a 200‑foot dedicated left‑turn lane on the site driveway, additional straight and right‑turn lanes and signage directing unfamiliar drivers toward Highway 17. "There's an existing Chick‑fil‑A store right there today that is bursting at the seams," Scott said, adding that the relocation would allow the company to double on‑site stacking and consolidate parking on leased property.

The project team also brought a traffic impact analysis. The traffic consultant who prepared the study said the analysis compared future conditions with and without the relocation and concluded the plan holds the additional queueing on site rather than creating new internal conflicts. He cautioned, however, that the Ashley Loop/Highway 17 intersection operates at a high level of congestion (LOS F) today and that small additions of volume can noticeably affect delays.

Adam Nelson, a Chick‑fil‑A corporate representative, told the council that Chick‑fil‑A has contacted the property owner and that any off‑site changes would require landlord agreement because Ashley Loop is a private road. "We lease from them currently," Nelson said. "As far as improvements on their property are concerned, certainly that would need to be something that they would agree to." He confirmed the company plans a larger building with more parking than the current store.

Local operator Jeff Cash, who runs the existing North Myrtle Beach restaurant, said the relocation would allow staff to manage traffic on site during seasonal peaks. "We're the second most seasonal restaurant in the whole chain," Cash said. "We're gonna get out there and just try to solve the problem every single day." He urged the council to allow the project team to continue discussions with the landlord and push for practical mitigation steps.

Council members pressed developers on the possibility that signage or routing could shift congestion to other nearby intersections—for example, 2nd Avenue or 8th Avenue—and asked whether a roundabout or alternative exit onto the rear parking areas could better diffuse peak flows. The traffic consultant said a single‑lane roundabout could be feasible but would need about a 130‑foot diameter and would cut into existing corner curbs and utilities, making it a major reconstruction that may not be practical in the short term.

No formal vote was taken on the amendment at the workshop; the mayor and council framed the session as a continued discussion. Developers estimated permitting and interagency reviews could take about another year. Council members asked staff and the applicant to continue coordinating with the landlord and to return with follow‑up information and any revised designs before putting the amendment back on a future agenda.