Santa Barbara ready to declare their Chick-Fil-A a public nuisance

[VandVsmama]

Actually that google aerial view perfectly encapsulates my point.

If this road is so important to moving people and goods why would you as a city allow a business to be located right off it? With an entrance right off the road? That means you're always going to have people slowing down to turn and you'll have people who turn into the business quickly after another entrance

It's not the customer's fault. You only have that city to blame sorry

And just to give an example from my area where I'd blame the city too this is a McDonald's (which is why I will insist this isn't a Chick-fil-A issue):
View attachment 653580
View attachment 653581

This is an aerial and street view of a McDonald's on a busy street in my city. If traffic were to back up so badly it would be on the city for allowing business to be 1) On the busy street 2) have no zoning rules on clearance for traffic with businesses.

Fast food in particular will have lines as a by-product of it. Plan for it. So in your story it sounds like the city of Santa Barbara needs to redesign and update the street for business instead of whining that it's Chick-fil-A. Another fast food joint can create the same issues. All they are doing is making a scapegoat.

That part of upper State Street has always been only 4 lanes and there's a snowball's chance in you-know-where of the road getting expanded to a 6-lane road (it's a town full of 'not in my backyard!').

 

[bcla]

Actually that google aerial view perfectly encapsulates my point.

If this road is so important to moving people and goods why would you as a city allow a business to be located right off it? With an entrance right off the road? That means you're always going to have people slowing down to turn and you'll have people who turn into the business quickly after another entrance

It's not the customer's fault. You only have that city to blame sorry

And just to give an example from my area where I'd blame the city too this is a McDonald's (which is why I will insist this isn't a Chick-fil-A issue):
View attachment 653580
View attachment 653581

This is an aerial and street view of a McDonald's on a busy street in my city. If traffic were to back up so badly it would be on the city for allowing business to be 1) On the busy street 2) have no zoning rules on clearance for traffic with businesses.

Fast food in particular will have lines as a by-product of it. Plan for it. So in your story it sounds like the city of Santa Barbara needs to redesign and update the street for business instead of whining that it's Chick-fil-A. Another fast food joint can create the same issues. All they are doing is making a scapegoat.

There's discussion about forcing them to close down the drive-thru. I've seen that before where a drive-thru at a fast food place was specifically not allowed. I looked on a map and apparently this location is unincorporated (uses a Mill Valley, CA address though) so the county made the decision.

https://www.cp-dr.com/articles/node-1279​

Based on careful site review for circulation and parking issues, combined with neighborhood character review and community input, a drive-through for In-N-Out was rejected in the Mill Valley shopping center. According to Tom Lai, principal planner for Marin County, the finding for denial — which went all the way to the Board of Supervisors on appeal — was based in the fact that the site was within a "neighborhood-oriented" center, and a drive-through would endanger pedestrians and harm the character. In-N-Out proceeded with building the restaurant sans drive-through. Of the chain's 143 stores, it is one of only two without a car queue lane.​

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That part of upper State Street has always been only 4 lanes and there's a snowball's chance in you-know-where of the road getting expanded to a 6-lane road (it's a town full of 'not in my backyard!').

Yeah NIMBY is strong here in my area but in the case of this residents would actually demand that the city make the road better for the traffic to flow better whatever that means varies.

We'd be saying we don't pay these high property taxes and sales tax for nothing lol.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There's discussion about forcing them to close down the drive-thru. I've seen that before where a drive-thru at a fast food place was specifically not allowed.

https://www.cp-dr.com/articles/node-1279​

Based on careful site review for circulation and parking issues, combined with neighborhood character review and community input, a drive-through for In-N-Out was rejected in the Mill Valley shopping center. According to Tom Lai, principal planner for Marin County, the finding for denial — which went all the way to the Board of Supervisors on appeal — was based in the fact that the site was within a "neighborhood-oriented" center, and a drive-through would endanger pedestrians and harm the character. In-N-Out proceeded with building the restaurant sans drive-through. Of the chain's 143 stores, it is one of only two without a car queue lane.​

Soooo again the issue is to make them a scapegoat but not actually do anything on their end? Yup government for ya

 

[bcla]

Soooo again the issue is to make them a scapegoat but not actually do anything on their end? Yup government for ya

More like it's not tenable so the terms of their operation have to be altered. Kind of like how neighborhoods have had speed bumps installed. Granted they probably should have figured out this wasn't going to work with their original permit application given the history of locations like this. But you live and learn.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

More like it's not tenable so the terms of their operation have to be altered. Kind of like how neighborhoods have had speed bumps installed. Granted they probably should have figured out this wasn't going to work with their original permit application given the history of locations like this. But you live and learn.

Nah sorry not buying it. Like fast food has been around for decades and decades and decades. Nope. Like this is the first time a commercial business has existed in a suburbia? Nope. City just doesn't want to have to do anything on their part, it's easier to pass the buck then to spend the buck.

 

[bcla]

Nah sorry not buying it. Like fast food has been around for decades and decades and decades. Nope. Like this is the first time a commercial business has existed in a suburbia? Nope. City just doesn't want to have to do anything on their part, it's easier to pass the buck then to spend the buck.

There's a strong incentive to open a business that includes the sales tax revenue and jobs generated.

I don't know exactly what went down with this, but when it gets to the point where people are at risk of injury, that's when it's time to change things. Things happen all the time where cities and counties have to reassess operational terms. The Costco near me has a line going out the street for the gas station, but it's in an industrial area where the normal parking area has turned into an extended queue. But you get things like clubs where it gets crazy with people out on the street and the terms have been changed. Ultimately they have to do something.

Personally I think they probably shouldn't have built at this location. This was all foreseeable. But at this point they can't just ignore the problem and just hope that it goes away.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

where people are at risk of injury, that's when it's time to change things.

If that's your stance it would have been there from the beginning sorry again not buying it. Not only that they can change the road to be more pedestrian friendly if they wanted to.

But at this point they can't just ignore the problem and just hope that it goes away.

Things happen all the time where cities and counties have to reassess operational terms.

These two points are my point. I've said in other comments the city needs to reevaluate the streets, rework them to adjust as time goes on with traffic patterns and populations. Their answer instead is to place the blame on the businesses for having patrons. I even ran this by my husband and he's like bull it's not on Chick-fil-A (insert whatever business name you want).

My opinion won't really change here

 

[Boopuff]

I just Don’t get the allure of Chik-full-a or in-and-out. Gross fast food. These Two are next door to each other, what a nightmare. It makes going anywhere near that street a huge pain.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just Don’t get the allure of Chik-full-a or in-and-out. Gross fast food. These Two are next door to each other, what a nightmare. It makes going anywhere near that street a huge pain.

Some of us like them.

 

[xipotec]

Chilfila is always crowded. Its due to the marketing to Christians combined with healthier options. Some survey done here in the south a few year back showed that the proportion of those identifying as Christian and actively practicing was much higher for the CFA customer than any other fast food restaurant.

Same for the healthier food option.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Chilfila is always crowded. Its due to the marketing to Christians combined with healthier options. Some survey done here in the south a few year back showed that the proportion of those identifying as Christian and actively practicing was much higher for the CFA customer than any other fast food restaurant.

Same for the healthier food option.

Please show that survey. I have lived in the Deep South all my life and I never remember seeing any advertising from CFA marketing it to one group or another. The times I've gone to CFA was strictly due to the fact that the food is reasonable quality at a reasonable price and their customer service is uniformly excellent.

 

[MillauFr]

The simple answer is to just close down the drive thru. Problem solved. If there is an accident Chick FIll A will get sued in addition to the city.

 

[RedAngie]

I've stopped at a location in the Central Valley along I-5 and it wasn't too bad. However, I almost never use the drive-thru. I can't figure out why people won't take available parking spots where they'll be out within 15 minutes with 5 parties in pine, while they'll wait 30-45 miles in a line that snakes around a parking lot and/or street.

Sheer laziness. It takes too much effort to park and, god forbid, WALK 30 feet into the establishment.

It appears Santa Barbara zoning and building fouled up by allowing the CFA on an inadequate/inappropriate site.

 

[bcla]

These two points are my point. I've said in other comments the city needs to reevaluate the streets, rework them to adjust as time goes on with traffic patterns and populations. Their answer instead is to place the blame on the businesses for having patrons. I even ran this by my husband and he's like bull it's not on Chick-fil-A (insert whatever business name you want).

Businesses come and go. However, changing a street layout is a major operation. How do they rework a street that was designed that way with business zones around it? About the only option to widen might be to take land via eminent domain or at a negotiation with the threat of eminent domain.

If it was a mistake there's always the option of clearing up that mistake. If they have to move in order to have a drive-thru, I'm cure that CFA corporate would be more than willing to allow a transfer of the franchise rights to another location.

 

[TLSnell1981]

"Your quality is too good, your service is excellent, and you're too successful!
Therefore, you're a public nuisance!"

Welcome to California.

Yep! All of the above are true. Our are always packed but very efficient.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Businesses come and go. However, changing a street layout is a major operation. How do they rework a street that was designed that way with business zones around it? About the only option to widen might be to take land via eminent domain or at a negotiation with the threat of eminent domain.

If it was a mistake there's always the option of clearing up that mistake. If they have to move in order to have a drive-thru, I'm cure that CFA corporate would be more than willing to allow a transfer of the franchise rights to another location.

Sorry respectfully like I already stated my opinion won't really change, have a good evening

 

[bcla]

I suppose the only option they have short of closing the drive-thru would be to start ticketing drivers blocking a traffic or bike lane. I'm sure that'll be a pretty big moneymaker for the City of Santa Barbara.

The only similar place with this kind of drive-thru business in the area is In-N-Out in Goleta. It's right next to the freeway, but what the the county (found that it's not technically in Goleta) did was approve a massive parking lot where they could arrange for double-lanes (until a merge) to soak up more cars. In this current version of the satellite view I see 32 cars in the drive-thru line, and no backup. And it's not on any kind of main thoroughfare. They also made sure there was a wide painted median right in the are, and there's a wide shoulder if the line ever extends into the street.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/I...176c0949ebeb72!8m2!3d34.4429318!4d-119.790712

 

[Dakota731]

Our Starbucks is the same way. The line is out on the road every morning and accidents happen there all the time

 

[sam_gordon]

Please show that survey. I have lived in the Deep South all my life and I never remember seeing any advertising from CFA marketing it to one group or another. The times I've gone to CFA was strictly due to the fact that the food is reasonable quality at a reasonable price and their customer service is uniformly excellent.

I agree with the bolded. The food is ok, not outstanding, but the customer service is VERY good. Aside from the salads (which about every FF place has), I'm not sure what qualifies as "healthier options" for the PP.