The Town of Victor Conservation Board reviewed a detailed site plan on March 18 for a proposed Chick-fil-A restaurant on a 1.96-acre parcel near the south entrance of Eastview Mall, marking a significant step forward for the high-profile fast-food project.
The proposal, presented by project engineer Randy Dutton, includes a 5,331-square-foot building with a double-lane drive-through, 60 parking spaces, a fenced outdoor patio, and substantial landscaping and stormwater management features. The site lies below Route 96, with a 17-foot elevation difference necessitating a retaining wall up to 10 feet high, topped by a safety fence and buffered by landscaping.
While the Conservation Board does not approve or deny projects, its recommendations play a key role in shaping the environmental and visual impact of developments as they move through town approvals.
What will this location feature as proposed?
- Drive-Through Design: The double-lane drive-through would accommodate high-volume traffic, with Chick-fil-A team members taking and delivering orders on foot under slimline canopies. Additional internal stacking lanes have been added to ease congestion during peak hours.
- Traffic Adjustments: Following earlier planning board input, the number of site access points was reduced from four to three to improve traffic flow. Internal traffic was also redesigned to accommodate better stacking and safer vehicle movements.
- Building Design: The restaurant will feature custom architecture, including full gabled rooflines and parapet walls to screen rooftop equipment. The design complies with the area’s overlay district to blend with surrounding development.
- Landscaping: The project will result in the removal of several mature trees due to grading and site work. While three trees may be preserved near the entrance, most cannot be saved or relocated due to root system vulnerability. The applicant pledged to plant new native species, including 3″ to 3.5″ caliper trees, shrubs, and greenery along Route 96 and the retaining wall perimeter.
- Drainage and Utilities: A closed drainage system with catch basins and underground piping will manage runoff and tie into the mall’s existing system. A private water main must be relocated to accommodate the retaining wall, and the site’s sewage will require a pump system due to elevation constraints.
- Lighting and Signage: Site lighting will be dark-sky compliant, with downward-facing fixtures. No standalone signage is proposed; signage will be limited to the building and directional signs.
Variances and Next Steps
Though the project complies with most zoning requirements, several variances will be required, including for:
- The drive-through canopy, which sits in front of the building’s setback line.
- The retaining wall and safety fence, which are classified as structures requiring approval.
- Green space coverage, as existing zoning does not permit the proposed configuration without relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
While the developers hope to begin construction in 2025, final approvals hinge on the outcome of the April 7 zoning board meeting, followed by continued planning board review. The applicant confirmed they will seek the green space variance independently of any anticipated future projects, such as the rumored Westin Hotel on the opposite end of the mall.
Board Feedback
Conservation Board members largely expressed support, focusing their questions on:
- Drainage at the retaining wall base to prevent soil saturation and slippage.
- Handling of removed soil (to be hauled offsite).
- Incorporation of feedback from the town’s landscape consultant.
The board urged the applicant to continue coordinating with the town’s landscape architect and maintain tree sizes and species consistent with prior feedback.
“This plan is pretty well thought out,” one board member said. “Just make sure you address Bruce’s landscaping comments, and you’re on track.”
What’s Next
The project is scheduled for additional review before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, with a possible decision later this spring.
If approved, the new Chick-fil-A would become one of the few standalone quick-serve developments directly adjacent to EastView Mall, further expanding the mall’s footprint as a regional destination.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].