(COLDWATER) - A new Chick-fil-A restaurant is moving forward in Coldwater after the city's Planning Commission approved plans Tuesday night for the former Rite Aid property at U.S. 12 and Michigan Avenue.
Commission members approved both a Special Land Use Permit and the site plan for the project.
The proposal calls for demolishing the vacant Rite Aid building and constructing a new 4,472-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Plans include 72 seats inside and 16 outdoor seats.
The Special Land Use Permit was required because the restaurant will include a drive-thru in the city's C-4 General Business District.
The approval includes conditions requiring a stormwater management plan and revisions to proposed signage to ensure compliance with city ordinances.
The former Rite Aid building has been vacant since 2022.
Construction plans are expected to be submitted Wednesday and developers are targeting a late 2026 opening.
Chick-fil-A currently operates at least 28 locations across Michigan and plans to double that number by the end of 2028. Typical operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. until 11 p.m.