St. Petersburg City Council voted 7-1 to approve land-use and zoning changes that pave the way for a larger Chick-fil-A at 4201 4th Street N, overturning a city commission's earlier rejection of the project. The decision clears a path for the fast-food chain to rebuild on a bigger footprint with nearly double the parking, but it also puts a long-running shopping center, a neighborhood fish store, and seven apartment units on the chopping block.
The vote reversed the Community Planning and Preservation Commission's 4-3 rejection of the same request, according to Florida Politics. Council member Richie Floyd cast the lone dissenting vote. Importantly, the council's action changed the land use and zoning designations for the site but did not amount to final site-plan approval, Florida Politics reported.
The redevelopment site sits along Fourth Street between 42nd and 43rd avenues north and spans roughly 1.56 acres, combining commercial and residential parcels on the east side of the corridor. Under the plan described by St Pete Catalyst, Chick-fil-A operator David Neely intends to rebuild the restaurant on a larger site with expanded parking and drive-thru capacity. The restaurant itself, which opened in 1999 and has long struggled with vehicle backups spilling onto Fourth Street, would grow by just 202 square feet even as the overall project roughly doubles parking capacity.
What Gets Torn Down
The project requires demolishing the existing shopping center, known as the Village Shoppes, along with the apartment building behind it. The Village Shoppes include seven commercial bays housing small businesses, among them Fourth Street Tackle and Aquatic Galleria, per the same account. The residential building behind the shopping center contains seven rental apartments.
The property has a longer history than the chain restaurant next door. The Coral Motel site was developed in 1948, and the building facing Fourth Street was later converted into commercial space; the structure behind the former motel contains seven efficiency-style rental units, the report notes. Fourth Street Tackle owner Tom Karakorn said he has operated his business at the location for 17 years.
Plans also call for removing the restaurant's driveway along 4th Street, adding sidewalks and landscaping, and relocating the existing alley eastward, closer to the residential neighborhood. A wall is planned along the eastern property boundary to separate the commercial development from neighboring homes.
Jobs, Payroll and a Fish Store's Future
Chick-fil-A's representatives told the council the restaurant has an annual payroll of approximately $2.5 million. The applicant estimates the redevelopment could create another 50 to 75 jobs. Florida Politics reported the restaurant currently employs approximately 130 people, while the Catalyst reported the figure as more than 130 — a discrepancy the record leaves unresolved.
For Aquatic Galleria co-owner Anulak Singphiphat, the math looks different. He estimated the move could cost tens of thousands of dollars and potentially force the business to close, and asked that “the business, livelihood and community contribution not be overlooked.” His business partner, Troy Barton, questioned whether a 202-square-foot expansion justified displacing existing tenants, arguing that new businesses should be able to succeed without sacrificing small businesses already there. Aquatic Galleria's own website states that its lease ends December 31 and that it needs help moving its animals safely.
Council Members Weigh In
Council member Gina Driscoll supported the appeal and agreed the proposed changes were consistent with the city's comprehensive plan, but she also questioned the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce's lack of acknowledgment of smaller businesses facing displacement, saying the chamber focused on one business without recognizing others. She urged Chick-fil-A and the business community to help those affected by the redevelopment, adding that “the fish store was important too.”
Chamber president and CEO Chris Steinocher urged the council to approve the appeal, arguing the zoning changes were consistent with surrounding commercial development and citing employment opportunities, community involvement, and the property owner's right to pursue redevelopment. Other council members similarly found the expansion consistent with the commercial corridor along 4th Street.
Floyd was the exception. He warned that property-by-property commercial expansions could erode the character of the residential neighborhood, and compared the proposal to an affordable housing project the council rejected in October over similar development-intensity concerns.
Housing Concerns and Unanswered Questions
Megan Smith, who represented the applicant, said during the August hearing that some apartments housed longer-term tenants, including a person temporarily relocated after a hurricane. The Rev. Andy Oliver, pastor of Allendale United Methodist Church, said the redevelopment threatened people with limited housing options and that displacing residents adversely affects a neighborhood.
Smith's team said the development group would help affected residents find alternative housing and would work with the aquarium business to identify another location. But no specific financial assistance or relocation agreements were outlined during the hearing, leaving tenants and business owners without firm commitments as the clock ticks toward Aquatic Galleria's lease deadline.
This is not the first time a Fourth Street Chick-fil-A has been retooled to handle crowds. A different location at 4241 Fourth St. N reopened years ago after six weeks of renovations that added a second drive-through lane and an enhanced catering kitchen, with a company communications director telling the Tampa Bay Times the extra lane would speed service and keep cars off Fourth Street. The council's vote this week does not finalize the new project's site plan, and the record does not establish what reviews or timeline come next.
