A new Waffle House and Culvers have been proposed for Thomasville Road in front of Chiles High School. The restaurants are adjacent to each other and are located between Rhea Road and Wolfpack Way.
On Wednesday, growth management officials held an Application Review Meeting to address the design specifics related to the projects. Officials reviewed the applications and addressed infrastructure, concurrency, and environmental issues. The applicants were provided with issues that needed to be addressed in the next submittal which will take place in the next 4-6 weeks.
The Waffle House includes a 1,913-square-foot restaurant with parking and infrastructure. and the Culvers includes a 4,556-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru, parking, and infrastructure.
Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch posted information about the projects on his Facebook account on March 12. The post generated over 375 comments. Most of the comments expressed opposition to the projects citing concerns about over development, traffic and the environmental impact.
During the meeting there were two public speakers that voiced concerns over the projects. One speaker addressed the traffic impacts, safety concerns related to a 24-hour restaurant located within walking distance from neighborhoods, and the environmental impact.
Another speaker asked the applicant to do everything they could to fit in with the natural beauty of the area. The speaker was concerned about the “North Monroe” look on Thomasville Road and recommended low profile signage and ample landscaping on the property.