Chick‑fil‑A’s long‑teased arrival in Gig Harbor is still on the clock. City officials have granted the developer extra time to finish planning paperwork for a proposed drive‑thru restaurant at the busy Point Fosdick and Olympic Drive intersection. The extension pushes the deadline to Feb. 23 to submit required planning materials, keeping a potential replacement of the Chevron at 5115 Olympic Drive in play. The project on file envisions a dual‑lane drive‑thru with outdoor patio seating but no indoor dining.
City outlines site and review steps
According to the City of Gig Harbor, the proposal calls for demolishing the existing building and constructing a 2,631‑square‑foot, drive‑thru‑only restaurant with two dedicated lanes, two canopies and 49 parking spaces. The city’s project summary notes outdoor seating for about 44 patrons and lists the Conditional Use Permit, major site plan review, design review and SEPA review as required steps before a public hearing can be scheduled.
Extension granted as paperwork lingers
Local reporting shows the city recently granted a filing extension so the applicant could respond to staff comments; correspondence in the permit file sets Feb. 23 as the new deadline for completed planning documents. As reported by Gig Harbor Now, city communications staff said the application remains incomplete and the chain’s representatives have asked for more time to prepare responses. A company spokesperson told reporters it “does not currently have any locations to confirm.”
Traffic and neighbors could shape the outcome
City staff have flagged the project for additional traffic analysis, warning that dual drive‑thru lanes at the busy intersection could create queuing that spills onto Olympic Drive, according to a report republished on Yahoo. The report notes staff asked for more geographically relevant traffic studies and turn‑movement counts before approving final plans. Those issues, plus parking and driveway configuration, are among the items the applicant will need to address before the Hearing Examiner takes up the permit.
What happens next
If the applicant files a complete package by Feb. 23, the city’s departments will begin formal review and the Hearing Examiner will schedule a public hearing, per the project’s online page. Residents who want to weigh in can send comments to [email protected] or contact Senior Planner Nestor Guevara for more information, according to the City of Gig Harbor.
