The Chick-fil-A restaurant proposed at Riverwood Plantation in Evans is just a little further underway, as the Columbia County Planning Commission gave its OK to two requests for the development during a short meeting, Thursday night.
Forsite Group, an engineering firm based in Peachtree Corners, Ga., applied on behalf of the renowned fast-food chain for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) revision where Market View Parkway meets Washington Road, to reduce its front setback from the required 125 feet from the centerline of Washington Road to 80 feet, to make way for the eatery’s drive-thru canopy.
County planner Will Butler noted that, according to the concept plan for the restaurant, the applicants “beefed up” the area along Washington Road with shrubbery and other foliage “to help screen that as much as possible.”
Jon Welsch, speaking on behalf of Forsite Group, confirmed this with the planning commissioners. “Right now, it’s a bunch of undergrowth,” Welsch said. “It’s kind of developed over time, and we’ll make that look well, while still doing what we need to help with traffic flow.”
The accompanying conditional use request at the site is in compliance with a county ordinance established in the late 2000’s requiring conditional uses to permit the establishment of fast food restaurants, Butler noted.
With few attendees at the meeting and no opposition, concurring with the planning staff, the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approving both requests.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering general reporting for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com
