Middletown board approves Chick‑fil‑A plan with traffic conditions and $100,000 contribution

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors approved a preliminary/final land‑development plan for a proposed 5,200‑square‑foot Chick‑fil‑A at Langhorne Square, subject to conditions intended to address vehicle queuing and pedestrian safety.

Applicant representatives described a dual drive‑through configuration, pedestrian connections to nearby sidewalks and a proposed $100,000 contribution to future intersection signalization at Highland Parkway and Lincoln Highway. "We would contribute $100,000 toward a new traffic signal and intersection improvements at Highland Parkway and Lincoln Highway," a project engineer said during the presentation.

Board members and neighbors pressed the applicant on how drive‑through queues would be managed and whether the restaurant’s traffic would overflow into the shopping center and nearby streets. The applicant said their design includes dual drive‑through lanes, canopies to speed service and a larger kitchen to reduce stacking, and pledged to coordinate with the shopping center owner and PennDOT on access and any driveway restrictions.

The board motion granting approval included standard conditions requiring compliance with Middletown’s subdivision and zoning ordinances, addressing outstanding review comments, funding for a Lincoln Highway deceleration lane, and the $100,000 traffic‑signal contribution and impact fees. The motion passed by voice vote.

What residents asked: Neighbors raised concerns about morning and dinner peak queues, the proximity of Starbucks drive‑through lanes, tree removal and landscaping, and the potential for overflow onto adjacent roads. The applicant agreed to further coordination and to consider additional crosswalks and signage.

What happens next: The approval is conditioned on completion of required engineering reviews, PennDOT highway‑occupancy permits and implementation of the agreed mitigation; the township will hold the applicant to the conditions in the motion if it seeks to finalize construction permits.