Neighbors who opposed the proposed Chick-fil-A along Duval Station Road could soon see development start on the site for the fast-food restaurant in North Jacksonville.
Bohler Engineering FL LLC of Boca Raton submitted civil engineering plans to the city Aug. 9 for the development, which is across Duval Station Road from First Coast High School.
As proposed, it will have two full access driveways on Lake Lake Road east of Bradley Cove Road.
Chick-fil-A Inc. of Atlanta proposes to build the 5,324-square-foot restaurant and drive-thru on 1.39 acres at northeast Duval Station and Bradley Cove roads.
Plans and site data show two drive-thru lanes and 62 parking spaces.
Land owner RBSSSS LLC intends to lease the property to Chick-fil-A.
Bohler Engineering also submitted an application Aug. 9 to the St. Johns River Water Management District for a minor modification to the property’s environmental resource permit for the project.
City Council rezoned the land in June to change the Planned Unit Development district to accommodate the project. The PUD is called the Northcreek Commercial Outparcel PUD.
The rezoning was Ordinance 2023-0856
The property previously was approved for one drive-thru lane, right-in and right-out access along Duval Station Road and two driveways on Lake Lake Road, with one of those inbound only.
Council voted 12-7 on June 11 to approve a rezoning request for the restaurant, planned for a parcel near the Publix-anchored Duval Station Centre across Duval Station Road from the high school in North Jacksonville.
Access to the double-drive-thru establishment is off of Lady Lake Road, with customers arriving by car entering through the North Creek subdivision entrance on Bradley Cove Road or through the neighboring shopping center parking lot.
Resident opposition
Dozens of residents spoke against the proposed restaurant numerous times in Council and community meetings, including in a public hearing before the Council in February. Several Council members self-reported that they had received more than 100 emails on the issue, with the overwhelming majority being against the rezoning.
The proposed restaurant was the topic of dozens of hours of debate at Council and committee meetings after it emerged in early 2023.
After disappearing for months amid a first round of opposition by the city, the project reemerged in December 2023.
Neighbors raised concerns about traffic safety, congestion, crime and a reduction of property values stemming from the restaurant.
A prime topic of concern is how the double-drive-thru establishment would affect access to the North Creek subdivision on Lady Lake Road. Access to the restaurant is on that road, with customers arriving by car entering through the North Creek entrance on Bradley Cove Road or through the neighboring shopping center parking lot.
Neighbors contended that at peak times, traffic from the restaurant would spill over and block access to the neighborhood.
On June 5, the Council Land Use and Zoning Committee voted 6-1 to recommend passage of the rezoning request after a public hearing on a traffic study for the project that was paid for by Chick-fil-A.
Traffic light required
Based on the results of the study, the city is requiring a new traffic light at Bradley Cove and Duval Station roads, which Chick-fil-A is funding, and a continuous right-turn lane into the restaurant.
Several LUZ members noted that a previous Council had approved rezoning in 2015 for a fast-food restaurant with a single drive-thru, and raised concerns that denying Chick-fil-A’s rezoning request could prompt the chain to sue the city.
Reggie Gaffney Jr., whose District 8 includes the restaurant parcel, said Chick-fil-A had done too little to adapt its plans to address the community’s concerns. Based on conversations with neighbors, Gaffney proposed amendments that included sign restrictions, requirements for trees along a buffer strip and a prohibition on walk-up windows. Council approved the amendments.
The rezoning request was granted to property owner RBSSSS LLC, which applied to rezone the land as a Planned Unit Development.
Ramzy Bakkar, president of the Bakkar Group in Jacksonville Beach, manages RBSSSS. Documents included with the rezoning application say the developer is Chick-fil-A.