Woburn Special Permits Committee Recommends Chick-Fil-A Petition

Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com via Flickr Commons.

WOBURN, MA—Woburn may be another step closer to having a Chick-Fil-A restaurant on Washington St., which may bring excitement to some but dismay to others concerned of the traffic issues on Washington St.

During its meeting Wednesday, the Woburn City Council Special Permits Committee voted 6-3 in favor of a committee report which sought to pass the proposal with conditions, which would bring a drive-thru Chick-Fil-A restaurant to the W.R. Grace site in East Woburn. The Committee met as a committee of the whole, meaning all 9 Aldermen voted on the report.

City Council voted in favor of the report which contained 16 different conditions. The conditions included plans which seek to help mitigate traffic, including the following which are subject to approval of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation:

• Provide second northbound left-turn lane from Washington Street onto I-95 northbound ramp
• Provide exclusive northbound left-turn lane from Washington Street onto Olympia Avenue
• Provide second exclusive through lane on Washington Street Northbound at Olympia Avenue
• Install new adaptive traffic signal

In order to fully approve the special permit, City Council must vote on the proposal at either a regular or special meeting of City Council. The petition, filed by Madison Woburn Holdings LLC, is set to go before City Council during its July 21 meeting, which will include an opportunity for public feedback.

Ward Four Alderman Michael Anderson, Alderman At-Large Michael Concannon and Ward 5 Alderman Darlene Mercer-Bruen represented the opposing votes. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the City Council chambers.