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St. Petersburg

Council Overturns Chick-fil-A Zoning Denial

St. Petersburg's City Council reversed a planning commission rejection of zoning changes that would allow a Chick-fil-A expansion on Fourth Street North.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Dining Out

Photograph of a quiet midday street corner with a weathered mid-century apartment block beside an empty parking lot and tall palm trees, with no visible signage.
The St. Petersburg City Council voted 7-1 to overturn a planning commission's rejection of zoning changes that would let Chick-fil-A expand on Fourth Street North. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The St. Petersburg City Council voted 7-1 to overturn the Community Planning and Preservation Commission's 4-3 rejection of proposed zoning changes for a Chick-fil-A redevelopment. The expansion would require demolishing a seven-unit apartment building and may displace businesses at Village Shoppes.

Why it matters

The vote changes the land-use designation of about 0.26 acres from residential to commercial, shaping how a busy St. Petersburg dining location and its neighboring properties can develop. Local operator David Neely argues the current restaurant creates traffic backups and safety concerns that the redevelopment would address.

The restaurant would grow by 202 square feet and add parking and a reconfigured drive-through, while the location currently employs about 130 people. Redevelopment could add 50 to 75 jobs, but the final site plan has not yet been approved.

The players

Chick-fil-A Inc.

Chick-fil-A Inc. is the Atlanta-based fast-food restaurant chain that owns the existing St. Petersburg restaurant property.

Richie Floyd

Richie Floyd is a member of the St. Petersburg City Council who cast the lone dissenting vote against the zoning change.

David Neely

David Neely is the local Chick-fil-A operator who argued the existing restaurant creates traffic backups and safety concerns.

Lannar LLC

Lannar LLC is the company that owns the apartment building and Village Shoppes strip that could be affected by the redevelopment.

The details

The redevelopment would expand onto roughly 0.26 acres south of the existing restaurant, eliminate direct access from Fourth Street North, and demolish a seven-unit apartment building dating to the 1950s. The apartments and Village Shoppes are owned by Lannar LLC, while the restaurant property is owned by Chick-fil-A Inc.

Timeline

  1. August: The planning commission rejected the Chick-fil-A zoning proposal 4-3.

  2. November 6, 2026: The City Council voted 7-1 to overturn the commission's rejection.

Dining Out Context

The council's override of the Community Planning and Preservation Commission reverses that body's recommendation on this site. The vote shows how St. Petersburg's elected officials can set aside advisory planning rejections for high-traffic restaurant redevelopments.

Residents and businesses near Fourth Street North may see changed traffic patterns and parking if the redevelopment proceeds. Tenants of the seven-unit apartment building and Village Shoppes could face displacement depending on final site-plan decisions.

The takeaway

Zoning decisions made by city councils can override planning commission recommendations, so residents who want to weigh in on local development should track both bodies. Watch for the final site-plan approval, which will determine the project's actual layout and timing.

Further reading

For more restaurant openings and changes across the area, see Dining Out coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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