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

[SandyinMonterey]

When I lived in Monterey, an In & Out Burger went into the town next door. There wasn't enough parking and the drive thru excess went into the main roads. Police would come out to help with traffic. I never heard of Chick Fil A until I moved to the South. Extremely popular here. Recently in my town a Chick Fil A restaurant was torn down only to build a larger one with 2 drive thru's in its place. One reason the drive thru's around here have been so busy is that most of the dining rooms still haven't opened. I had asked in December 2021 when they planned to open and was told January 2022 but that ever happened.

 

[Mokat76]

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.

On whose dime? CFA filed all the proper paperwork with the city to get this specific plan approved at this specific location. If the city doesn’t want it now, are the taxpayers willing to spend the money to fix it? Or is this just the city doing CYA because they messed up? The city screwed up but you seem to think CFA should pay for the city’s failure. Nope.

 

[bcla]

On whose dime? CFA filed all the proper paperwork with the city to get this specific plan approved at this specific location. If the city doesn’t want it now, are the taxpayers willing to spend the money to fix it? Or is this just the city doing CYA because they messed up? The city screwed up but you seem to think CFA should pay for the city’s failure. Nope.

Found more on how this came to be. The City of Santa Barbara doesn't allow new drive-thru locations, and didn't when it moved in. It was grandfathered in because it was an existing building (a former Burger King).

https://www.mashed.com/139678/ranking-fast-food-fried-chicken-sandwiches-from-worst-to-first/​

The 3707 State Street location once housed a city's Burger King, so it is no stranger to being a fast food hub. However, Santa Barbara reportedly has traffic issues from such restaurants, as reflected in a Starbucks location near Goleta. Furthermore, Santa Barbara no longer allows for new drive-thrus to be built. Though Chick-fil-A simply took over Burger King's drive-thru when it moved into the space, Noozhawk reports its patrons are frequently forced to spill into the streets because of how busy the location gets. This purportedly causes major blockage for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists trying to get through.​

​

The management of the local Chick-fil-A had taken matters into its own hands. The establishment has sent additional team members to serve guests further up in the queue and has even hired third-party vendors to help mitigate traffic. Furthermore, the restaurant tries to make it as clear as possible that customers should not block the street. Nonetheless, there are major complaints from pedestrians to fix the congestion, and perhaps declaring this location of the chain a "public nuisance" is a way to incite change.​

So what's the alternative? Just throw their hands up and say "Sorry we can't do anything about the hazard to drivers, bicycles, and pedestrians because we issued a permit 9 years ago?

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

The first location in WA state had to have a security detail (they initially hired off duty police through the city) outside, and limited people lining up. As soon as the drive through lane was filled, no additional cars were allowed to turn in, or stop on the street. It made it really difficult to plan to go to CFA, because you never knew if you were going to get stuck outside, and having to circle around several blocks to get back to the entrance.

CFA moved up the timetable to open locations 2 & 3 in the area.

 

[bcla]

The first location in WA state had to have a security detail (they initially hired off duty police through the city) outside, and limited people lining up. As soon as the drive through lane was filled, no additional cars were allowed to turn in, or stop on the street. It made it really difficult to plan to go to CFA, because you never knew if you were going to get stuck outside, and having to circle around several blocks to get back to the entrance.

CFA moved up the timetable to open locations 2 & 3 in the area.

I don't know if that would necessarily alter the amount of business since it wouldn't matter as long as the drive-thru line is solidly backed up to the sidewalk to the point where new customers have to be diverted. And that might not be something possible in Santa Barbara since this location is such that drivers could just go around the block. The only loop is about 3 miles since there's one of those weird residential zones and a golf course.

 

[bcla]

I found the release by the city.

https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/civica/press/display.asp?layout=4&Entry=2540​

MEDIA RELEASE​

Expressing Concern for Public Safety, City Council Directs Action to Abate Problems Caused by the Chick-fil-A Drive-Thru​

​

SANTA BARBARA, CA - 3/2/2022​

​

On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously voted to direct the City Attorney to prepare a draft ordinance with findings to support declaring a public nuisance arising from operations of the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 37307 State Street. Council continued the public hearing to June 7 when the ordinance and remedial options will be presented to Council. In the intervening time, City staff will work with Chick-fil-A to evaluate approaches to abating the nuisance.​

​

Council’s motion also included a request that Chick-fil-A representatives provide a letter by March 11 outlining the continued mitigations they are implementing, such as the use of a traffic control staff person and expedited order processing, along with monthly traffic survey reports to City staff.​

​

In recent years, the queuing from Chick-fil-A’s drive-through onto State Street has created serious traffic congestion, as well as hazardous conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and those with disabilities.​

​

“On the Council our primary responsibility is for the protection and preservation of public health, safety, and welfare,” Councilman Eric Friedman said. “In this case, there is another high priority for the Council when you have a quasi-judicial hearing, and that’s to ensure that a fair hearing takes place and a transparent process. So we have to ensure that we have both of those as we go forward on this.”​

The Public Hearing will return to Council on June 7.
​

​

Shelly Cone
Phone: (805) 564-5312
Email: scone@santabarbaraca.gov​

 

[DisneyOma]

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

Welcome to California.

"Quality too good?" - you need to raise your standards

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.

How is it healthier food? https://www.chick-fil-a.com/nutrition-allergens So high is sodium and saturated fats, except the fruit cup, LOL!

 

[RedAngie]

"Quality too good?" - you need to raise your standards



How is it healthier food? https://www.chick-fil-a.com/nutrition-allergens So high is sodium and saturated fats, except the fruit cup, LOL!

Somehow CFA has successfully created and maintained the illusion that their food is “healthy.” Or at least healthy as far as fast food goes.

 

[MrsPete]

the Chik Fil A closest to me is packed at all hours of the day. Even random times like 3 pm there’s at least 10 cars per lane. It’s good and we stop there as our fast food preference when traveling, but people are excessively crazy over it (and I live in the South, it’s not like you can’t get fried chicken anywhere )

Yeah, three Chick-fillets are within a reasonable distance of my house. All three have double lanes, and they move fast.

That place is a gold mine!

My kids and I have an agreement: if we ever win the lottery, we will spend the money to buy a CFA franchise. We figure that instead of having a million dollars once, we'd get a million dollars every year.

I'd much rather have Popeyes or Zaxby's (not that there's one of those near me!).

We just got a Popeye's, and I have been through their drive-through exactly once. Never again.
I saw that their fries are $4.99, so I suspected they would be large /share-able. I asked the cashier how big they are, and she answered, "They come in a box." Okay, not helpful.
I waited a very long time (in spite of the fact that it was 4:45ish, and I was literally the only person in line).
At one point the cashier -- yes, this really happened -- opened the drive-through window and screamed DON'T, then closed the window. I don't think the DON'T was meant for me, but she didn't speak to me at all.
We all agreed that the sandwich was good but nothing special, and the fries were lackluster.
NEVER again.

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.

Yeah, I was thinking something similar. Garbage cans, parking, etc. are in someone's lease or other legal paperwork. If things aren't working, the city needs to look into the restaurant's legal paperwork. Your opinion and mine are just that -- opinions.

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.

I have noted that police officers are OFTEN in Chickfillet -- eating, not responding to trouble -- and I have assumed they give discounts to law enforcement. But, no, I've never seen any marketing towards any particular group.

 

[Boopuff]

I remember reading somewhere that CFL was opening "ghost" kitchens to sever the Grub Hub, Uber Eats etc. So those orders don't clog up the restaurants and speed up the lines. Not sure if it's a real thing or not.

 

[bcla]

I remember reading somewhere that CFL was opening "ghost" kitchens to sever the Grub Hub, Uber Eats etc. So those orders don't clog up the restaurants and speed up the lines. Not sure if it's a real thing or not.

DoorDash has set up ghost kitchens with multiple “tenants”.

https://thespoon.tech/chick-fil-a-begins-delivery-operation-out-of-doordash-ghost-kitchen-facility/

I’ve heard of some private ghost kitchens that have multiple tenants, but are available for different delivery services to use. No takeout either. I recall on that was located in a narrow alley in San Francisco. It closed down, probably because the location was unworkable for all the traffic.

 

[HashberryOTG]

Their use of peanut oil makes it a no go for me (allergies). Not a fan!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

"Quality too good?" - you need to raise your standards
How is it healthier food? https://www.chick-fil-a.com/nutrition-allergens So high is sodium and saturated fats, except the fruit cup, LOL!

I feel so sorry for anyone that has been subjected to so much culinary deprivation that they think Chick Fil A's quality is good.



Even by fast food standards, which trust me are quite low, Chick Fil A delivers an average chicken sandwich at an above average price. It's the same deflated fast food bun you can get anywhere. And it's breaded already so it's bread on more bread.
As for healthy, it's a sodium bomb due to being loaded with MSG. But it's not a ton worse than most fast food chicken sandwiches in the nutrition department.

Somehow CFA has successfully created and maintained the illusion that their food is “healthy.” Or at least healthy as far as fast food goes.

They have built a whole fake culture around themselves complete with claiming they invented the chicken sandwich. So let me get this straight. Domesticated chicken has been around since about 6,000 BC and bread has been around since the Neolithic. But nobody thought to put chicken on bread until 1964? And I'm to believe that a chicken salad, sandwich, served well before chick fil a doesn't count as having chicken?

 

[DisneyTarheel]

Somehow CFA has successfully created and maintained the illusion that their food is “healthy.” Or at least healthy as far as fast food goes.

For every CFA sandwich sold, an angel gets its wings.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

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.

From the site of this particular CFA : "Dine-in services temporarily available at a limited capacity "

I do not know if any inside ordering/dining is available at this location. So the option of walking in and ordering may not be available.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't care if they are healthy or not. Its a treat that we choose to have occasionally and a city unhappy about their popularity is the city's problem IMO.

 

[DisneyOma]

I don't care if they are healthy or not. Its a treat that we choose to have occasionally and a city unhappy about their popularity is the city's problem IMO.

I'd rather have a real treat than fast food - how is fast food a treat? It doesn't really taste all that good, isn't very fancy, and is rather expensive for junk food. My idea of a treat is something much nicer than a processed chicken sandwich. How about something from a local,, unique restaurant? We treat with flatbread pizza, or coxinha, or something like that. Or is the convenience of it the treat? That part I get, but I'd rather treat on real food.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'd rather have a real treat than fast food - how is fast food a treat? It doesn't really taste all that good, isn't very fancy,

I'd wager a guess that when someone says it's a treat they choose to have, to them it's a treat.

My in-laws love ice cream. I mean I'm fine with it but I don't hold it in such high regard as they do. They'd def. call it a treat and to me it's just so-so most of the time. Eye of the beholder and all.

 

[Planogirl]

I'd rather have a real treat than fast food - how is fast food a treat? It doesn't really taste all that good, isn't very fancy, and is rather expensive for junk food. My idea of a treat is something much nicer than a processed chicken sandwich. How about something from a local,, unique restaurant? We treat with flatbread pizza, or coxinha, or something like that. Or is the convenience of it the treat? That part I get, but I'd rather treat on real food.

To each their own.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't care if they are healthy or not. Its a treat that we choose to have occasionally and a city unhappy about their popularity is the city's problem IMO.

The city is not unhappy about their popularity. The city is unhappy about cars spilling out onto the thoroughfare and blocking traffic and representing a danger to cyclists and pedestrians.

I'd rather have a real treat than fast food - how is fast food a treat? It doesn't really taste all that good, isn't very fancy, and is rather expensive for junk food. My idea of a treat is something much nicer than a processed chicken sandwich. How about something from a local,, unique restaurant? We treat with flatbread pizza, or coxinha, or something like that. Or is the convenience of it the treat? That part I get, but I'd rather treat on real food.

MMMMMMM Chick Fil A Treat.