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Currently, the plan is to relocate the Chick-fil-A from one location to another to alleviate the traffic from spilling out onto South Cobb Drive. And this is speculation that the uh new location that the traffic will not spill out onto South Cobb Drive. It is just merely speculation. And so if speculation is an acceptable basis for making a decision that will permanently alter our neighborhood, then I ask this, who is better to make those speculations than the residents who actually live here and understand the realities of the area? the information about the area that is not included in any of the information provided by the developers and presented to planning, to council or to the mayor that uh about uh that is that Oakdale Road is a very small one lane in each direction completely residential street that intersects with South Cobb Drive at a very dangerous and complex five-point intersection. so dangerous and complex that it is a no right turn on red area. Many residents call this area uh Smyrna's very own Spaghetti Junction. The information is seemingly conveniently left out of all visual and written considerations for approval or disapproval of this plan. leading me to believe that this council and mayor just simply do not have enough information about the adjacent streets, neighborhoods, and intersections and traffic patterns to make an informed decision that has very heavy consequences and outcomes for the residents of this area. We could speculate whether this plan will solve the traffic issues or create far worse ones. No one can say for sure, but what is certain is that it will it it will be the residents who permanently bear the consequences of the decisions made here today, right now. high-tra double drive-thru restaurants will introduce impacts that completely residential street infrastructures simply cannot support. And once those impacts once those impacts exist, they cannot be undone.

And I would like to finish with one final very important point. If we as a city, the residents, the planning council and mayor allow for shoehorning of highintensity traffic drive-thru restaurants that this infrastructure cannot support today, where does it stop? What happens when it is a drive-thru restaurant in your front yards? Who will stop them? This would set a very bad precedence and should not be approved. Thank you for hearing. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Next we have William Schwarz, 2168 Oakdale Estates. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Members of council, I'm I am very opposed to this because the Odell Road entrance is about 60 feet from South Cop Drive. I walk my daughter that way pretty much every time she drags me that way. So, you're talking about having an inter left, you know, and I see nothing in the plan where they're going to prohibit left turns from Oatdale Road going toward Atlanta road into this facility, which means the travel back up onto South Cow Drive. So the problem you had with the current Chick-fil-A, you're going to have with this Chick-fil-A. Additionally, that is a blind curve and cars because of jurisdiction. I'm not going to argue that now. Between Smyrna and Cobb County, Odell Road is a racetrack. People regularly go 50 miles an hour and they go 50 m an hour up to that traffic light that stays green for about 7 seconds, which gives you time for two cars to get through legally. Additionally, that 60 car drive-thru, how do we know when it first opens? It'll probably be 120 cars, 180 cars. It's going to be a brand new facility. And we they don't know what they don't know. They're speculating as much as anybody is.

But given that the traffic regularly backs up where I cannot even get into my own development because that traffic lights only time for eight seven to eight seconds, I strongly urge you to not develop that land at all because it's just going to add more pain to the residents who live there. In addition, do do our schools have the capability to handle all these kids that are that we continually we build here, we build there, we build everywhere. Where's Cobb County schools? Have do we talked to them? Hey, we want to build 100, you know, 163 units, possibly 320 kids or more. Can the schools support it? And my answer is no. Because I see when I see a temporary classroom, landscaped in so it lives permanent. I'm thinking we really need to check ourselves and figure out, are we doing what's best for our children? So, I'm I'm on record. I'm opposed to both parts of this. And, you know, if you want to develop stuff, go into older neighborhoods and develop houses one for one. Bring those land values up, which will bring property taxes up, which may support our current school, but building more and more houses will not pay for new schools. You know, impact fees pay for new schools. So, thank you for your time. And again, I'm opposed to both parts of this. Thank you. Thank you. Last person signed up is Lauren Morris, 2199 Misty Lane. And and after Miss Morris, was there anyone else who had come up to be sworn in that that are not on the list? Okay. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you for the opportunity for me to state my opposition to this proposal. Um, I like my many friendly neighbors here are concerned about the traffic, that fiveway intersection, the outflow of cars onto Oakdale just creating even more havoc at that intersection, plus all of the pedestrian and kids and bikers.

As noted, it is a thorough fair for that activity to get to the Silver Comet Trail. So, I'll be short and sweet tonight in stating my opposition, and I appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you. Um Rusty or the applicant, I can y'all speak a little bit more for me to the signal timing that seems to be an issue over there now if there's going to be any change to that and then what just focus in on the traffic flow and traffic plan specifically for that area. I went over there and drove the area. Um, I'm I'm very familiar with what we're talking about here. Te tell me more about how all of this is going to work at that location with the drive-thru. Those studies are going to take place if this is approved prior to issuance of land disturbance. So they'll do a an analysis of the signal timing of the the light at South Cobb and Oakdale along with probably the light at Highlands Parkway and South Cobb Drive and figure out what the appropriate timing is based on the trip generation from the uses around there and what traffic is coming in there to maintain the same level of service um that's currently there. So, I can't give you specific numbers today, but that is all part of the review. Um, with respect to uh what Miss Shaw uh said that there's not a stipulation in here that requires the county to review. Stipulation number four, per vatum, the developer shall be responsible for any traffic improvements, including additional rightaway dedications deemed necessary by either the city or the county during construction review. That's as plain as it can be. Um, we are going to do our diligence. The county has their standards with respect to what they want to see. G. controls the light and controls South Cobb Drive.

We will coordinate these reviews and make sure we're trying to address everything in in the best possible way as as we can. And if any of those entities say, "Hey, this entrance or this um this entrance on our jurisdiction is not appropriate. We need to limit it." The zoning stipulation says they have the authority to tell them no. So if they say, "Hey, we're not going to do a left out at this entrance on the Oakdale Road. It's only going to be a ride in ride out." They have that authority to do that. They have the authority to make those changes according to the plan. But okay, but we have we have the ability now to make that change on if we were going to. I I'm a little uncomfortable just honestly with the traffic. Maybe it's because I don't have enough uh has been presented to me on the on the previous plan that was approved here. Was there traffic study done versus the traffic study on this site? What what and if so, what were those findings with this use? I understand that that the signal can be changed. I I get the timing and all that kind of stuff, but just the general anticipated traffic coming through there. Maybe this isn't a question for you. Maybe this is a question for the applicant what this you know what the what the effect is going to be the backups and the anticipated there's probably a better question for the yeah I'd like to know just kind of what what has been done on the front end on the traffic side of things. So if there's somebody on the applicant side that can answer that question any kind of study that's been done or any kind of um I' I'd like to I'd like to know a little bit more about that. Yeah, sure.

Um there there was um as far as the traffic, I think, you know, I can maybe lean on David a little bit and their engineers for how that's going to work. Um, as you know, as Rusty said, I mean, there is there is a um, you know, it's it's kind of hard to define now because it will be reviewed by the county and the city and and everybody to see if any changes need to be made as far as the timing of the light, traffic flows, where the entrances are, if one of these entrances must be turned into a right in, right out to avoid, you know, slowing proposed traffic flows. So a lot of that typically in these situations we you know lean during lean on during the permitting process because that's you know they they generally have some comments to the plan and say hey we think this you know this might be a safety issue you have to change this we have to do so a lot of this is driven by G dot and Cobb County when we do get into planning but I don't know if you guys have any comments to to add to need to swear her. Why don't you do it? Sorry, we've got a non- attorney that needs to be We got to get sworn in. Okay. Make sure we're doing it the right way. And then when you're finished, I think Miss Hines had another question, too. But I'm just I want to get some comfort level with the impact that this is going to have on the on the neighborhood there from a traffic perspective. That seems to be the number one concern and uh volume and safety and how we're dealing with all that. And I I agree, Mr. Mayor, that was what we heard at the at the planning commission meeting was that, you know, this sort of parade of horribles that's going to happen if this is approved.

I don't necessarily agree with that that position. Um, this has been reviewed by your your city engineer. We've actually met with your city engineer and talked through things such as the the need uh to have a pedestrian crossing. Currently, there's no sidewalk on the west side of Oakdale. And if if a school bus is dropping off there, then kids are just getting dropped off on the side of the road without a sidewalk and no crossing. uh that's going to be provided. Exactly where that's going to be is going to be determined in in cooperation with your your city engineer. Uh in addition, uh one of your staff recommendations, uh number 20 is that a right turn lane on Oakdale Road at South Cobb Drive will be required. Again, to quote Rusty, it couldn't be any planer. And a dedicated right turn lane will be provided. uh at that intersection where uh there may not be one. Now, um as far as the design of the site, uh I'm going to defer uh to Kendra, who is uh the engineer that works with Chick-fil-A, not just not just on this project, but on dozens, if not hundreds of projects. Uh, and part of her job is to help design the site so that the the traffic will in fact or the the the cars will be on site as opposed to uh leaking out onto neighboring streets. And that's one of the reasons I've heard people talk about the double drive-thru as a horrible thing, but one of the reasons you want to have a double drive-thru is to prevent that backup. uh it accommodates more people uh more customers. It allows for uh bypass operations uh in in if one order is taking a lot longer for whatever reason than than the orders behind it. So it it's much more efficient at moving people uh through the through the process.

And I probably gotten a little bit out of my lane, so I'm going to defer to Kendra and see if she has. KJ, you designed the site and I'm guessing this is not a, you know, it's not a traditional intersection. Tell me tell me how the traffic is going to move, how many extra cars you're anticipating there, how there this area can handle it if it can. I just I want to get a comfort level and and I don't have it yet. Yeah. Yeah. Good evening, mayor and council members. Um Kendra Lewis for the record. Um I so I'm not an engineer but I work closely with the engineer and the architect. Um so my title is a senior permit manager. I am involved heavily in the due diligence entitlements permitting process and all the way through construction. So, um, myself and my team have probably already spent 40 to 50 hours, um, doing preliminary research for this site. Specifically, we've spoken to all of the city, county, and DOT stakeholders and sent them this preliminary plan or some iteration of it. Um, and so, so first, the traffic study. Um Chick-fil-A has not done their own traffic study at this point. We would want the approval tonight in order to proceed with that. Traffic studies are um a big expense. Um sometimes they could be five figures. So that's not something that we've gone through with yet. But um we have reviewed the previous traffic study done by Aerys which is what um in part this this was designed around. Um also we have taken into account DOT standards. Um so as mentioned South Cobb Drive is a DOT roadway. So that's where we will have we'll have an access permit through DOT for the South Cobb entrance. And then for the Oakdale road entrance, that will be the city and the county.

Um, and and we will not get a permit without all of those entities approving of the plans. But I can tell you that to my knowledge, this site does meet the minimum DOT standards um for intersection spacing. Um the standard requirements are based on a couple of standards and one of which is the type of roadway and then the other is the speed limit. So based on those items um our initial research has indicated that what you see on the plan does meet the minimum requirements. Okay. I know Miss Hines had a question. Mr. Welch has a question. Mr. Oglesby has a question. But Miss Hines is first. Okay, I have several questions and it may be that Rusty might need to and and I want to make sure we come back. I want to get this traffic thing figured out first. This is about the traffic. So, that's might might be able to come back up. Um I understand that the traffic study is is not um it's not cheap. Mhm. Um but we leave and go home and we're not being impacted by this development that's coming up and um being a good neighbor for the people that you're proposing to have your development in. Um it would be nice if maybe that could be a consideration. But I want to go back to Rusty because I have a a couple quick questions. Um because I want some clarification for myself. I'm trying to look on Google maps so I can understand a little bit better because it feels like there's several jurisdictions that are going on here definitely Cobb and then we have uh we have uh the state with DOT Misty Lane is that within the city of Smyrna? No, that's unincorporated Cobb. Okay. All right. So pretty much the area between the convenience store and country and suites and Oakdale estates that's unincorporated Cobb County.

Okay? Meaning we are only on the west side of Oakdale Road. Unincorporated Cobb is on the east side. And when we don't have land on both sides of a roadway, the jurisdiction falls within Cobb County. And Cobb County is also doing the sewer and water. Is that right? Uh for the part of Okay. Typically south of East West Connectors, uh Cobb County Water and Sewer. Okay. Before you ask your question, Mr. Ro, I still nobody's told me how many cars are going to be coming. It can this intersection handle this? And the reason is because nothing because no study's been done yet and y'all are saying that a study needs this needs to be approved before a study's done. Well, should I think it should be the other way around. And forgive me, but five five and I'm not listen, I'm not these folks are going to vote on this and but it it strikes me that coming up here and saying that it might cost five figures, but okay. You know, I know that's an expense, but I feel like this is backwards and that and that just feels wrong the way that this is. Nobody's told me my answer my question yet. Mr. Welch. Yes. So, South on South Cobb Drive. Yeah. Yep. So, yeah. I mean, if I'm exiting the drive-thru, I would have two options. So, I could take a right and turn out of South Cobb and I could go that way or I could go I could go to um the other exit and I could Yeah. Right. Yeah. I was I was navigating inside the site. So yeah, I could go towards the left and then exit. You're talking about this. I'm gonna go out to South Cop Drive and cross because the light just up the road is going to give me the benefit of being able to cross South Cop Drive.

Um, but that's just me. Um, I I mean, and the site plan on this thing, it's a tough site plan. I, you know, I'll say that about it. I don't do traffic engineering. I don't do site plans, but but it it's got a lot going on. But still, that is not the way I would not go out on Oakdale Road and and try to get across the righthand turn lane into the lefthand turn lane with these people coming down Oakdale Road that aren't going to let me in. I'm going to go out on South Cob Drive. Right. That's why that was the first option that I went. Mr. Ogles will be next. Mr. Lindley. Hey, thank you. I I want to thank you for being here today. I I have to say this. I'm really disturbed that you all didn't do a traffic study. I stay in this area also. Uh that's really disturbing. What is your busiest time of the day currently for the current location? What are the busiest hours? Mr. Mayor, can I ask Daniel Lomax, who's the operator, to come forward? Sure. Do you need to swear him in too, Scott? Sorry, Scott. Thanks, guys. I wasn't planning on speaking today, but long-term Smyrna resident. We built a house right behind Market Village, so I walked over here. Um, I've been the owner operator of the Chick-fil-A since uh 2012. Been with Chick-fil-A for 25 years. So, Lo is above my pay grade. I just sell the chicken. Um, but I can tell you um just a little bit about the volume if that kind of helps. We're about twothirds the volume of the one that's closer to downtown Simrna and they just built one in Mapleton that took about 20% of my volume on top of that. So in retrospect of other Chick-fil-Ass we are below average volume.

Um some of the things I think are kind of scary are the two drive-thrus and the 30 car stacks. Um that's all to help with traffic. We have currently one of the most difficult lots in Chick-fil-A. We're on 8 acres. I can stack 15 cars on my drive-thru. So, what you fill in the morning backing up on the highway, sometimes we get on Highlands, um, all that is contained to our lot. So, if you have cars that are stacked up on South Cobb, I'm losing my job. Like, that that's like an hour wait. Um, so I I don't know the traffic patterns. All I can tell you is um everything is going to be contained to the lot because this thing is built for three times the volume of what our current lot has. And it's not like three times people are going to come. It's just it it handles the volume better. Um I honestly have one of the most difficult lots currently in Atlanta to operate. So the question was what is your busiest hours of the day? Yeah, obviously 12 to one. Um so we get obviously kind of what you expect. We get a breakfast rush um 7 to 9 in the morning and then we have the 12 to 1:30 and then our dinner, but you really don't feel that at dinner. I think moving across the way I think that's probably going to change the traffic pattern a little bit will probably be a little bit less breakfast and a little bit more dinner. Yeah. So that's the busiest time of day for the entire area. It is a spaghetti junction. You are aware of that. Uh and there was no traffic study. So, what is the what are there any plans? I mean, maybe there should be plans for Odale Road to improve traffic at least, right?