The McDonough city council held their monthly meeting on Monday night, November 21. During their meeting, the council approved a rezoning request for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant on Willow Lane.
The new restaurant will replace the existing QuikTrip gas station at the corner of state route 20 and Willow Lane. QT is building a new service station closer to the interstate.
Chick-fil-A Willow Lane
The new Chick-fil-A will be a drive-thru only model. It will not offer indoor seating for its guests. Instead, guests can order at a walk-up window or through the drive-thru. The new location will be in addition to the existing Chick-fil-A on Avalon Pkwy.
The new location aims to reduce delays at the existing Avalon Pkwy store by offering another option nearby. When complete, there be a Chick-fil-A restaurant on either side of the interstate.
Based on a traffic impact study completed by the applicant, the new Chick-fil-A expects to generate less traffic than the current gas station. This is based on traffic counts taken at the QuikTrip as well as projected traffic volumes for Chick-fil-A. In addition, Georgia DOT is planning major improvements along highway 20 discussed below.
The representative on behalf of Chick-fil-A estimates construction will start in March 2023. The store should open before the end of next year.
City Council Action
Before Chick-fil-A could start on its new location, the property required a change in zoning. This is because the city of McDonough requires C-3 zoning for a drive-thru lane. The QuikTrip has a C-2 zoning district. The city council voted 4-1 to approve the zoning change.
Highway 20 Widening
(GDOT photo)
Georgia DOT plans to widen highway 20 between I-75 and Phillips Drive. This will result in four travel lanes with a center median. The state accepted construction bids in September for the project. At the time of writing, they have not yet awarded a construction contract.
The widening project includes updates to the Willow Lane intersection. They include adding two left-hand turning lanes off both Willow Lane and Industrial Blvd onto state route 20. There will also be a continuous sidewalk as part of the project.
Featured image shows a Chick-fil-A drive-thru lane. Clayton Carte photo.
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