HAYMARKET, Va. — The Haymarket Town Council is set to revisit a controversial Chick-fil-A drive-through expansion proposal during its upcoming work session on Monday, April 28, 2025, as questions remain about the project’s approval from key regulatory agencies.
Earlier this month, the council narrowly approved Special Use Permit (SUP) #2024-001 in a 4-0 vote, allowing the Chick-fil-A at 15186 Washington Street to proceed with a revised site plan known as “Exhibit 6.” The updated plan proposes extending the restaurant’s rightmost drive-through lane onto an adjacent property owned by Virginia National Bank, creating a bypass lane and adding a mobile order pickup point aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing wait times.
However, the approval was conditional: the restaurant must obtain sign-off from all necessary regulatory bodies — including the Prince William County Fire Marshal’s Office, which currently opposes the plan. Fire Marshal Matt Smolsky flagged the design as “unacceptable,” citing narrowed drive aisles and restricted emergency access to the bank’s entrance.
In defense of the proposal, Christina Hughes of Bowman Consulting argued that the drive aisle maintains a 37-foot curb-to-curb distance — compliant, she says, with the county’s design manual. Hughes expressed confidence in working with the fire marshal to resolve the issues.
The April 28 meeting will also consider SUP #2024-002, a second request from Chick-fil-A that was deferred from the previous session at the applicant’s request.
Town staff had previously recommended denial of the initial special use permit, raising concerns over pedestrian safety, maneuverability issues for customers of the adjacent bank and dental office, and the lack of a dedicated traffic impact study. The proposal also marked a rare instance of a business seeking to use a neighboring lot for operational improvements — a move staff warned could set a troubling precedent.
The town’s Planning Commission had unanimously recommended denial during a meeting last fall. Nonetheless, the council voted to move the project forward, provided the applicant secures all necessary external approvals. If those are not granted, Chick-fil-A will need to return to council for further action.
A letter of support from Virginia National Bank, read into the record during the last meeting, noted the bank’s backing for the revised plan following clearer lane markings and a 5-foot-wide landscaped buffer added between properties.
The April 28 work session begins at 7 p.m. at Haymarket Town Hall.
