Chick-fil-A Development Overcomes Zoning Board Challenge in Fairfield

Fairfield, Connecticut — The upcoming Chick-fil-A establishment, poised to open at the former location of Joe’s American Bar and Grill, has successfully weathered a challenge to its development before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

An attorney representing the owner of a neighboring property on Eliot Street had applied to appeal two certificates granted by the town. These certificates allowed the property owner and architect to undertake renovations and upgrades, transforming the site into a Chick-fil-A restaurant. The proposed changes included window and door replacements, interior renovations, and the addition of an outdoor patio.

In a 4-1 vote, the Zoning Board rejected the appeal, primarily due to it being filed beyond the 30-day statute of limitations. The appeal, filed in May, arrived approximately six months after the town had granted the second of two certificates of compliance for the location’s renovations.

Attorneys representing the owner of the properties at 17 and 73 Eliot St. argued that the intended function of Chick-fil-A would constitute a change in the use of the space that was previously occupied by Joe’s, a traditional sit-down restaurant located at 750 Post Road. They contended that Chick-fil-A lacked the special permit required for such a modification.

Certificates for the renovation work were issued by Zoning Enforcement Officer Matt Decker in August and November of 2022. According to the attorneys’ statement in support of the appeal, the applicant, architect Philip Cerrone, informed town officials in April that the building would house a Chick-fil-A.

In late 2021, the Town Plan and Zoning Commission had rejected a proposal to accommodate Chick-fil-A at the Post Road property due to traffic concerns. However, once the corporate chain removed its drive-thru feature from the plans, the project was back on track since the intended use remained the same.