A New Chick-Fil-A Franchise Unit on Mill Road, Route 58

LET'S GET SOCIAL?

Chick-fil-A, a fast-food franchise business famous for its chicken sandwiches, has been added to the Long Island Cauliflower Association’s proposed 42,000-square-foot retail development in Riverhead. The proposed unit is located on the northwest corner of Route 58 and Mill Road. Three one-story retail buildings totaling more than 10,000 square feet were originally proposed, as well as a nearly 5,000-square-foot fast-food restaurant.

According to the company website, Chick-fil-A, Inc., located in Atlanta, has 2,500 locations in 47 states, including Washington, D.C., and Canada. According to town planning aide Greg Bergman, the planned Chick-Fil-A franchise in Riverhead would include 70 indoor seats and 20 outdoor chairs. Currently, the closest Chick-fil-A restaurants are in Port Jefferson and Smithtown.

He stated that Dunkin’ Donuts would have twenty indoor chairs. Numerous Dunkin’ Donuts locations exist in Riverhead Town, such as West Main Street, Route 58 near the traffic circle, and Main Road in Jamesport.

Ed Densieski, a Riverhead Planning Board member, proposed that a sound barrier and maybe a sight barrier be constructed to protect residents of the nearby mobile home park to the north. He had made the identical suggestion a year previously for the last proposal. Mr. Densieski also advised installing artificial turf on a property’s green space, which does not require watering.

Joann Waski, chair of the Planning Board, concurred, stating that there is a need to save water. George Nunnaro, a Planning Board member, inquired whether the municipality had received comments from the town water district on the district’s ability to service the property.

Mr. Densieski stated that the previous design had only one restaurant, whereas this one had four. The four structures, according to planners, will each have their link to the town sewer network. Doug Adams, a spokesman for the application, feels that the parking space on the northern section of the property is significantly lower than the property line to the north. He stated that they would examine the town’s views on the project concerning noise and other concerns.