Chick-fil-A submits construction plans

Two years after purchasing property in the north Spring Prairie Center shopping area, Chick-fil-A, a popular fast-food chicken restaurant, has submitted construction plans for its Kalispell location.

“It’s finally coming,” Kalispell Planning and Building Director Tom Jentz said. “For two years we’ve been talking about it. They purchased the site very early on in the process.”

The building, located next to the Verizon Store on Treeline Road, will be valued at $750,000.

Jentz said the restaurant chain purchased the property at 35 Treeline Road so far in advance in order to secure a location while it continues to expand in the western United States.

In recent years, the company has began a West Coast campaign of expansion, with more than 1,850 restaurants primarily located in the southeastern United States. Jentz said completing restaurant locations in the western United States will establish a self-sustaining supply line.

Jentz said the company expected the permitting process to take longer in Kalispell, similar to the lengthy process usually faced in more urban areas.

“They were pleasantly surprised that the site was ready to go. The site they purchased had already been approved,” Jentz said.

Chick-fil-A has not submitted a contractor for the project yet, but Jentz said the restaurant is expected to be finished by late summer 2016.

“The ground is stiff now and it’s a bad time to build,” Jentz said.

Several construction sites are on hold through the winter months.

The sewer and storm water installation has halted on the four major building pads and nine smaller properties in Spring Prairie Phase Four near Kidsports.

Construction on the new 101-room Marriott Springhill Suites hotel south of Kalispell’s north fire hall will continue through the winter months.

Chick-fil-A is the final piece of the Spring Prairie Phase Three development.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.