Plans for Grafton restaurants move forward

Slowly but surely a proposal to create Chick-fil-A and Café Zupas restaurants on the site currently occupied by Office Max in Grafton is moving ahead.

The Grafton Plan Commission on March 31 recommended approval of a planned use development to govern use of the property as well as a certified survey map for the property at 346 Port Washington Rd., which if approved would pave the way for the development of the two restaurants

The commission also approved the site plans for both restaurants subject to some changes in the landscaping plans, saying the buildings are consistent with other locations in the region, according to Village Administrator Tim Wellnitz.

But the commission’s recommendations came with conditions.

Members recommended that the restaurant development only be done with changes to the median and turn lanes on Port Washington Road north of the access drive to the Target-Home Depot site just east of the restaurants.

Those changes include shortening the left turn lanes at Port Road and Highway 60 as well as lengthening the left turn lane on Port Road to access the Target-Home Depot site.

Those improvements are needed to improve traffic flow in the area, officials said.

The Village Board will consider the certified survey map and planned use development designation, which allows the village to consider the proposals as occurring on one site rather than two and provides flexibility to ensure a cohesive development,  when it meets on Monday, April 20.

The Architectural Review Board will look at the design of the two buildings when it meets in May.

It’s been two years since a proposal to bring a Chick-fil-A restaurant to the village was first reviewed by the village.

Last March, plans for a Chick-fil-A restaurant and a bank to be built on the site of the Office Max store were initially reviewed by the Plan Commission.

Last year, the village said that while plans for the restaurant were still in development, the project was put on hold after the bank pulled out of the project.

Last fall, the village took steps to make it easier for a drive-through restaurant to be built along Port Washington Road, and in December the Plan Commission had an initial review of plans for Chick-fil-A and Café Zupas.

According to documents filed with the village, the proposed Chick-fil-A would be built on the north side of the property. The 4,982-square-foot building would have a two-lane drive-through.

The restaurant would operate from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays with a maximum 30 employees per shift.

  Café Zupas, which would be built on the south portion of the property,  would be 2,916-square-feet and have a two-lane drive-through.

The restaurant is expected to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily with a maximum nine employees per shift.

Construction of the restaurants, which are being developed by Alrig Mars Grafton LLC, is expected to begin in August and be completed in time for a February opening.