Norwalk planning commissioners approved a second Chick-fil-A in the city on Tuesday, September 23, despite additional traffic concerns.
The commission voted 5-0 to approve the 23,783-square-foot fast food restaurant that would open 10710 Firestone Boulevard, in a shopping center anchored by Target, where an office depot once operated. . The place was also home to a Starbucks, which has since closed.
A 4,005-square-foot commercial building will also be built for retail or medical service use in the future.
Commissioners Gabe Garcia and Linda Lopez raised concerns about traffic.
“This lot has been empty for a while, but I’m a little concerned about the traffic going from Target to Firestone,” Lopez said. “It can add congestion to the area.”
She continued: “I’m afraid that once Chick-fil-A is built, it will add to that. Plus, I love this project.”
Norwalk’s director of community development, John P. Ramirez said the project got support from Target because the restaurant is closed on Sundays.
Ramirez also promised to review the impact on traffic three months after its opening.
Chick-fil-A will also have a drive-thru that covers two lanes and can accommodate up to 51 vehicles. It will also have 97 parking spaces.
Keel D. Mabery and Daniel A., both for Pasadena-based Linscott Law & Greenspan Engineers. A traffic report by Kloss found that the project would generate 78 fewer daily trips than it used to.
“The proposed dual drive-thru lanes will provide adequate stacking, and it is not anticipated that vehicles will queue back in the internal drive aisles,” they wrote.
Construction is expected to begin early next year, with the store opening later in 2022.
