Butler Township approves zoning exception for potential Chick-fil-A
BUTLER TWP — After being granted a special exception for two exterior canopies, a Chick-fil-A location is now one step closer to construction.
The Butler Township Zoning Hearing Board approved an appeal for a special exception for canopies at a potential location. While the township’s zoning does not normally allow canopies to be disconnected from the primary structure, special exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis.
The property is at 660 Butler Crossing and is owned by Northwest Bank. A tax map number included in a legal notice advertising the hearing correlates to an empty lot located next to the Butler Crossing McDonald’s, according to the Butler County Geographic Information System.
Tyler Prime, an attorney representing Chick-fil-A, presented the plan to the zoning hearing board. He said the canopies primarily serves both as part of Chick-fil-A’s branding and to keep employees and customers out of the elements.
Justin Thornton, an engineer representing the chain, added that as part of the special exception, Chick-fil-A guaranteed it will remove the free-standing canopies if they ever close the location.
Meghan Sweeney, who identified herself as the owner of the Butler Crossing McDonald’s, attended and spoke at the meeting. She expressed her concern about granting an exception based on precedent.
“When I’m reading through the ordinance, it talks about gasoline, canopies for that, but I’m not sure where this exception would fall in that case,” Sweeney said.
However, zoning officer Jessie Hines clarified for the zoning board why the exception is valid.
“One of the expressed criteria, 12a: ‘canopies, as defined herein, shall be permitted to cover outdoor display and sales areas or fuel-dispensing areas accessory to authorized uses.’ Where people order and where people pick up is part of their sales areas,” Hines said.
Ultimately, board members Greg Sloan, Brent Thomas and Carl Rose all voted to approve the exception.
Township zoning officer Jessie Hines said now that the exception has been granted, the company will need to apply for land development. The application would go in front of the township planning commission and board of commissioners before construction could begin.
Currently, there is only one Chick-fil-A location in Butler County, on Route 228 in Cranberry Township. Another location was approved for construction at the Adams Corners shopping center on Route 228 in Adams Township.
