Chick-fil-A Under Fire Again; Opposition for California Location Grows

Chick-fil-A is under fire again, but not for opposing same-sex marriage this time.

Mercury News reported that opposition is building against Chick-fil-A's plans to open a new drive-thru restaurant in Mountain View, California.

A second appeal was filed Monday in the hopes of overturning a zoning administrator's July 11 decision to grant the embattled fast-food chain a series of permits for a location at 1962 El Camino Real.

Unlike the first appeal, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's opposition to same-sex marriage didn't factor into the latest effort, said Bruce England, who submitted the paperwork on behalf of a group of sustainability-minded people who live and work in Mountain View.

England's group has been following the project since last fall and is primarily concerned about the impact of a new drive-thru on the city. The 4,200-square-foot eatery would replace a Sizzler.

"Those who live and work in Mountain View expressed repeatedly preferences for increased emphasis on walkability and bikeability over car and other vehicle transit through infrastructure improvement prioritization," the appeal states.

"Increasing the number of approved drive-thrus [sic] in our city from 26 to 27 moves in exactly the wrong direction."

England said his group doubts a proposed 7-foot-tall wall would do much to shield residents of an adjacent apartment complex from drive-thru activity. They also want to know whether tenants were told about Chick-fil-A's plans.

As a whole, the appeal contends the location would be a poor fit for a new drive-thru restaurant.

"Likely future developments in the area will include increased residential density due to infill and population growth," the appeal states.

The first appeal filed on July 19 also targets the drive-thru, but was motivated by President Dan Cathy's admission his Atlanta-based company was "guilty as charged" for not supporting gay marriage.

"By having two appeals on the table," England said, "it gives the council more flexibility to pick and choose among the options."

Although the anti-gay chicken restaurant is under steam as a whole from gay rights activists who are boycotting, many came out to support Chick-fil-A on "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

More than 630,000 supporters signed up to celebrate the day Wednesday, which former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee created to counter a boycott launched by gay marriage activists last week, ABC News reported.

"The goal is simple," Huckabee wrote on the Facebook page for the event. "Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1."

FOX News reported that on Friday, supporters of same-sex marriage will have their say. They plan a "kiss-in" at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country - encouraging gays and lesbians to share a public display of affection at the home of the chicken sandwich. It is called "National Same-Sex Kiss Day."

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