For the last few weeks, rumors have swirled about the possibility of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Keizer Station.
While it may still materialize, it is far from certain and a map supposedly showing the location being circulated on social media sites doesn’t match up with any in the city’s possession.
Keizer Community Development Director Nate Brown addressed the rumors at a meeting of the Keizer City Council Monday, March 2.
“We know that the developers are talking with Chick-fil-A, but they are in talks with lots and lots and lots of people,” Brown said.
Brown specifically addressed the map found on social media with a Chick-fil-A logo on a building located in the “jug handle” of Ulali Drive Northeast. The jug handle is the space between Ulali and Chemawa Road Northeast that sends drivers out of Keizer Station toward Interstate 5.
“For anything to happen there with the inclusion of a fast food restaurant, there has to be a master plan revision and, as of yet, that has not even been filed,” Brown said.
It would take a master plan revision and the issuance of a building permit for the restaurant’s logo to begin appearing on site maps held by the city. Neither of those things have happened. That doesn’t mean the developers haven’t created mock-ups hoping to entice Chick-fil-A to Keizer.
“We’ve been told that they are working on the application for a master plan revision, but we’ve been told that for months,” Brown said.
Brown reiterated that the city has no control over the brands that come to Keizer Station.
While Chick-fil-A might still only exist in the dreams of some residents, drivers might notice activity at the site in the coming weeks.
“Public works did issue a public improvement permit to extend some water and storm drain lines into that site. You might see activity out there, but there aren’t going to be any buildings going in there at this point,” said Public Works Director Bill Lawyer.
The jug handle area is being developed by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians with RPS Development.
The last time Alan Roodhouse, president of RPS, spoke at a public meeting on the potential development, plans for the jug handle included a gas station, quick service restaurant and a automotive services/accessory store.