LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., PA — A famous fried chicken chain is one step closer to opening its first Lehigh Valley location.
A double drive-thru, 3,589-square-foot Raising Cane's proposed for 6216 Hamilton Blvd was granted a zoning variance by Lower Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday.
- Southern fried-chicken chain Raising Cane's has been proposed to come to the Lehigh Valley
- The location would be at 6216 Hamilton Blvd., next to Movie Tavern in Lower Macungie Township
- Zoners approved variances for lighting and signage as the project heads again to the township's planning commission in July
The matter had been tabled at recent planning commission meetings, requiring further engineering review and discussion.
The chain, founded in Louisiana in 1996, has grown significantly in recent years, and may now find a new home next to Movie Tavern in Trexler Business Center.
The restaurant focuses almost entirely on its chicken fingers and sides of coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries, Texas Toast and signature "Cane's Sauce."Raising Cane's representatives
It would be the first location for Raising Cane's in the Lehigh Valley. The closest locations now are in southern Bucks County, Philadelphia and New York City.
The restaurant focuses almost entirely on its chicken fingers and sides of coleslaw, crinkle-cut fries, Texas Toast and signature "Cane's Sauce."
Lighting, setback concerns
Representatives from Raising Cane's say if all goes well, they expect to start construction by the end of the year, with a projected opening of mid-to-late summer 2024.
Applicants for the project requested zoning variances of requirements for sign setback and greater outdoor lighting than town regulations typically allow. They were granted at the meeting without significant pushback.
Applicants say the lighting is due to a company practice of sometimes taking orders by foot to reduce wait times when drive-through traffic is excessive.
When appearing before the township planning commission during recent meetings, applicants said they are seeking a modification for a plan already approved to build the restaurant with a double drive-thru at the final remaining site of the Jaindl-developed Trexler Business Center.
The township is requiring the fronting along Hamilton Boulevard to have a storefront appearance and current plans include a walkway from Hamilton Boulevard onto the Trexler Business center site and potentially a mural on the side.
'A very busy use'
The planning commission had discussed awkwardness related to parking when considering the nearby Texas Roadhouse restaurant, along with dumpster placement and traffic flow, and the proposal was tabled for further review.
"This is going to be a very busy use, we're almost all sure of that."Lower Macungie Planning and Community Development Director Nathan Jones
"This is going to be a very busy use, we're almost all sure of that," Lower Macungie Planning and Community Development Director Nathan Jones said.
"It's going to make an already busy shopping and dining area even more busy. So we just want to ensure that flow and intersections are as tightened up from a design and engineering perspective as possible."
The plan is set to be publicly reviewed by the township Board of Commissioners at a future meeting. The project is set to go before the planning commission again during its July 11 meeting.
Also approved at the site is a drive-thru Wawa and the First Commonwealth Credit Union headquarters.
The final approval for the plan modifications are, like the massive Town Center project, set to be put to the township Board of Commissioners at a future date.
