SPOKANE, Wash. – The City of Spokane’s City Council passed an emergency ordinance Monday night that turns part of 29th Avenue into a more pedestrian friendly street.
That part of the street, which includes the intersection of 29th Avenue and Regal Street, is where a Chick-Fil-A could potentially be built.
“It creates street standards for safer streets that make it more accessible for pedestrians, creates new design guidelines, and then it also bans new drive-thrus. While this isn’t about any specific proposal or drive-thru, it would ban new ones going forth,” Paul Dillion, Spokane City Council Member (District 2), said.
However, the ordinance does not stop the project, nor will it stop the building permit review process from happening.
Chick-Fil-A filed preliminary papers in the week prior to the Council vote which aligns with codes prior to the emergency ordinance.
The chicken chain might be impacted only if their permit expires.
The potential Chick-Fil-A has caused concern amongst residents in the South Hill, city officials and businesses that are near the 29th and Regal Intersection, such as Miller’s Hardware.
Miller’s Hardware’s store manager, Mark Schmale, told NonStop Local his concern is of a hazardous traffic situation.
“We’re constantly seeing traffic issues out here as it is…There’s quite a few retirement facilities around here and they [elderly residents] tend to walk here a lot. And, if the streets are going to get that busy and that crazy, they’re just not going to come out,” Schmale said.
City Council Member Michael Cathcart (District 1) understands the traffic concerns, but his main issue is with the Council’s ordinance itself.
“What really worries me is the concern about blight and non-conforming status for others. So, there are a couple of existing drive-thrus in that area. And with this law going into effect, essentially if…the use of those businesses were to change, or if a new establishment were to come in, the drive-thru aspects of that would be prohibited,” Cathcart said.
NonStop Local also reached out to Chick-Fil-A to find out if they intended to move forward with the new location, but did not hear back.
