The Deerfield Beach City Commission on April 22 approved a major site plan allowing Chick‑fil‑A to install a larger front canopy, add a second drive‑through lane and operate with fewer on‑site parking spaces at its Hillsborough Boulevard location.

City officials said the changes are meant to reduce order and service times, protect employees from sun and rain, and relieve stacking conflicts that were causing vehicles to block parking and internal circulation. Attorney Dwayne Dickerson, representing the applicant, said the canopy and reconfigured stacking would allow the restaurant to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expectations for team‑member protection and to serve vehicles more efficiently.

The commission granted a requested variance from the Deerfield Beach Land Development Code to place the canopy 15.4 feet from the front property line instead of the 50 feet the code normally requires, and approved a technical deviation to allow 31 parking spaces on the property in lieu of the 44 spaces called for by code. The commission record shows a unanimous vote of 5–0 to approve the resolution; Vice Mayor Preston seconded a motion by Commissioner Plow.

Supporters on the dais described the parcel as an older generation site with circulation and stacking issues that the redesign would address. Several commissioners and the applicant said the new design will add at least 15 additional stacking positions, reduce conflicts with parking, and improve safety by preventing vehicles from queuing into the shopping center or rights of way.

The clerk disclosed campaign contributions from the applicant's representative to multiple commissioners before public comment, as required by the city code of ethics. No public speakers spoke in opposition at the public hearing on the item.

The resolution requires a four‑fifths approval because it includes a variance; the commission recorded a unanimous five‑member approval.

Planning staff and the applicant noted additional landscaping, new canopy elevations and reconfigured parking and access will be part of the final site plan. The applicant said they would use paint and material choices and integrated fans in the canopy to minimize heat for employees.

A city staff condition noted the property remains part of a larger shopping center with additional parking opportunities in the center; the parking deviation applies to the Chick‑fil‑A parcel only.

The commission's approval authorizes the development to proceed subject to the conditions and final permitting; the project team will now return to staff for final engineering and permitting steps.

Votes at a glance

• Resolution approving Chick‑fil‑A major site plan, front‑setback variance (to 15.4 ft), and parking deviation (31 spaces vs. 44 required): motion to approve by Commissioner Plow; seconded by Vice Mayor Preston; roll‑call approval 5–0.