The Jonesboro Board of Zoning Adjustments granted three variance requests on Tuesday, clearing the way for the construction of a new Chick-fil-A restaurant at 3504 Southern Creek Lane, near Southwest Drive.
The developer detailed plans for the location, which will occupy 1.8 acres and feature a drive-thru lane isolated from dine-in traffic. According to Brent Edmondston of Chick-fil-A, the location will also include two entrances and a single exit on Southern Creek Lane. Edmondston explained that these features aim to improve traffic flow and efficiency, with the restaurant’s drive-thru queue expected to exceed the company’s standard capacity by 60%.
“We are able to contain and keep that queue within our property limits,” Edmondston noted during the meeting.
Alan Wiley, a project engineer for GBC Design who has worked on Chick-fil-A developments in 20 states over the past 18 years, described the proposed site as unusually large for the restaurant chain. Wiley presented the variance requests on behalf of Chick-fil-A, emphasizing the need to adapt city code for the unique layout and efficiency goals of the project.
One variance requested permission to bypass a city code requiring cross-access connections between neighboring properties. Wiley explained that a connection to the adjacent Tommy’s Car Wash at 3528 Southern Creek Lane would serve no practical purpose, as it would primarily facilitate customers leaving Chick-fil-A to use the car wash. He added that such a connection could cause traffic congestion at the restaurant’s drive-thru exit, hindering operational flow.
Another variance sought approval for three access points—two entrances and one exit—onto Southern Creek Lane, despite city code prohibiting more than two points. Wiley stated that having a third access point would prevent interactions between drive-thru and dine-in customers, contributing to smoother operations overall.
After raising questions about the requests, the board approved all three variances. One committee member recused himself before the presentation began, and another abstained from the vote.
With the variances in place, the project can advance, offering a larger-than-usual site and a drive-thru layout designed to optimize customer convenience and safety.