CityofSantaBarbara
Source: City of Santa Barbara
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.
Talk about getting something basic wrong … I don’t think anyone is gonna buy what you’re trying to sell.
That is the part I like. The City employees failed to even let the property owner know that there was a problem with the tenant? This is a standard City procedure. Or is there a problem with the individual drivers that block the street illegally? If a driver blocked the street illegally in front of City Hall, a driver would get a ticket because it is a violation and City Hall would not be held responsible for that infraction. Am I correct?
“The City employees failed to even let the property owner know that there was a problem with the tenant?” — Don’t believe everything you hear (that is consistent with your preconceptions). “Am I correct?” — Basically, no.
Oh, it’s that vile racist vandal … talk about losers.
If this was something other than a indisputably controversial business, would we still be having this issue?
Sac – No…we wouldn’t. Which is silly because Starbucks isn’t any better or less worthy of derision…
I’ve seen several fender benders while filling up gas across from the Starbucks on Turnpike. there is a mess of weaving in and out between the Starbucks, gas, IHOP and just people trying to navigate that at times busy road. Cue outrage or is Starbucks acceptable while Chic-fil-a is not…?
What about FedEx or UPS throwing on there hazard lights in the middle of the street.
That’s a business blocking the road. I guess that’s ok.
Not sure why the police department isn’t just stepping up the ticketing of the folks blocking the street and sidewalk. That would make for some mighty expensive chicken!
I don’t know how they can hold CFA liable for what their customers are doing prior to arriving on their property. Some people in the city tried to not even let them open their doors initially due to a political donation made by the company. One suggestion would be to narrow the sidewalk near the CFA entrance and paint that portion of the sidewalk with red stripes, which would work quite well IMHO. So many businesses have gone under or are failing, and they want to shut down the one that is cram-packed every day except Sunday? I think more people object to the dozens and dozens of people camping, sleeping, defecating, and shooting up on our sidewalks, parks, and just about anywhere these people want to ruin things for everyone. CFA is good for Santa Barbara, and now a few peeps want to shut that success down. What’s up is down, and what’s left is right….go figs.
Well that was my earlier point Ahchooo… I’m not upset. This kind of seems like a nothing… being made into a something on (at least on some level) political grounds. It’s not that big of a deal. Feels like more of people having an axe to grind with their politics (and/or chains) in general. Drive around it. Same with foothill around la Colina and yeah, the new Starbucks. Much ado about nothing…
Haven’t really been following this, but why is the business being targeted for the actions of drivers trying to enter it? What remedies were they asked to make to resolve this problem? Why can’t the City just revoke the drive through license/permit/whatever? Declaring it a public nuisance under the law opens up a can of worms that I don’t think the business (or property owner) should have to swallow.
Chik-Fil-A continues to donate to anti–LGBTQ groups. CEO Dan Cathy said supporting same-sex marriage would invite God’s judgment on the country. I have no need for their chicken sandwhiches and the drive thru is a nuisance.
LUCKY777 – The city loves to “heap money on losers?” Who are these “losers?”
AHCHOOO – I haven’t watched the hearing or read really anything about this. What are they asking the business to do? I guess I don’t get what they can do short of closing the drive through. Is that an option?
Was not much of a traffic problem when it use to be Burger King. And now a huge traffic problem that it’s a Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A is just waaaaaayyyyyy overrated. I personally do not care for it. Turn it into a nice Middle Eastern or a South American Restaurant, and no drive-through. I would definitely go there.
Chick filet is ho-hum and average quality.
The CITY needs to be the one to make the changes since they are the ones that OK’d this project where it is in the first place.
Don’t blame the patrons for crying out loud.
I think some folks political leanings have alot to do with the uneven treatment.
Maybe you should let them take over part of the street,like all the tourist restaurants on State,which I despise for different reasons,but none political.
bad take here. Chick-Fil-A is delicious.
It’s really not – compared to true fried chicken. Waffle fries aren’t all that either.
I hate Chick-fil-A and I hate their politics. I think the traffic around them is a nuisance.
But, why is it their fault? There’s only so much that they can do if people are stupid and block traffic. Sadly, there’s no “easy” way to pass them, and go around the block, to find a place to park and maybe walk in. (Same with In-N-Out, and others.)
I used to go to 99 cent on State & Haley and noticed the same issues, but then I just started parking in the city lot across the street. Can the police ticket people?
I’ve never eaten at Chick-Fil-A but have driven past it many times and don’t understand why everyone is so worked up. It’s the same with driving past schools at certain times, turnpike at certain times, etc. I could see Rusty’s being annoyed though…
As for “just revoking” a drive through license/permit…that’s an incredibly valuable thing to “take”.
LUCKY, how much money has the City given to you?
DUKE – I agree. Every time I’ve driven past, it’s a few cars, but nothing that should be this dramatic. I just don’t see what they can be expected to do? Their politics are awful and I don’t eat there because of them, but I still don’t understand what the City wants them to do about this.
You nailed it 8:06! If you want to operate a busy and successful business you need to take it outside the city limits. Hopefully chick-fil-a will be able to terminate there lease when the city shuts down their drive through and open a new location in county jurisdiction. This is a tremendous loss for the property owner. Everyone who owns property within the city limits should take note of what the city is doing and plan for the risk of city actions diminishing the value of their property.
Del Taco would be way better – and no donations to groups that are anti-LGBTQ.
I wish they would declare homelessness, a much bigger problem, a “public nuisance”….and then actually act on it. Instead, they are going after fried chicken sandwich lovers.
See… political…
What about the clogged streets in front of schools. Or the clogged freeway off-ramp to the schools?
America the land of the intolerant & people against successful businesses.
Let’s say a successful business is a nuisance. But the homeless fires near residences and businesses, that’s ok. And nothing permanent gets done.
Seriously folks, go whine about something important
Here’s a tip for those of you who have yet to try CFA and/or have avoided going there due to the traffic issue: Go to CFA on a Friday from now (or actually, yesterday) through April 15 because the lines are nearly non-existent. The reason? Lent! Santa Barbara is approximately 50-55% Catholic, and during Lent, practicing Catholics do not eat meat! The number of customers is greatly reduced. So, if you like golden crispy tender fried chicken, head there on a Friday during the next eight weeks or so. Be sure to get their wonderful lemonade (make it a large!). A few people do not like their products for some reason, but most people love (dare I say “crave”?) their chicken as it’s not as greasy as KFC.
If the business weren’t attracting fools who won’t abide by the “don’t block traffic” signs, maybe we’d whine less.