Chick-Fil-A Coming to Crowded West Bradenton Intersection

BRADENTON – At Wednesday's meeting, the Bradenton City Council approved plans for a Chick-fil-A restaurant proposed for the southwest corner of Manatee Ave West and 43rd Street in west Bradenton, at the site of a former Bank of America location across the street from Jesse P Miller Elementary school.

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge attended the meeting to advocate for the council's approval. The site is within the commissioner's district, which includes west Bradenton and the islands. Van Ostenbridge said that the county is committed to improving the already strained intersection but acknowledged that the restaurant would likely be open before that happened.

Some council members expressed concern about the impact a busy fast food location would have on traffic. The intersection can already take more than one red light cycle to cross during peak traffic times, particularly during school drop off and pick up, as St Stephen's Episcopal School is only half a block east on Manatee Avenue.

The site plan calls for dual drive-thru lanes that would allow for up to 52 cars to be stacked in line and 97 on-site parking places.

The council approved the application with stipulations presented by staff that included:

• In the event city staff determines that the project’s actual traffic impacts create safety or operational conflicts with the existing elementary school, then city staff may require the property owner to implement additional or modified traffic control measures as may be necessary to address the condition. Such measures may include but are not limited to the following:
• Change of circulation patterns in the parking lot;
• Use of parking lot for drive-through circulation during peak hours;
• Additional directional markings and signage;
• Changes in hours of operation of drive-through;
• The hiring of increased police presence for traffic control;
• Possible right-turn-only exit from 43rd Street West access point; and
• Any other traffic control devices or practices as required by city staff.