What’s Going On with the Old KFC?

For those wondering what is going on with the old KFC on Ritchie Highway, a Chick-fil-A is set to fill the vacant building, but it is still in the preliminary stages.

Rosanne Zimmerman, with Anne Arundel County Planning and Zoning said that Chick-fil-A representatives are working to address concerns with Leelyn Drive.

“It is just part of the process of what they have to go through,” Zimmerman said. “I believe it was mainly with the needed improvements to the road and that was what the hold up was.”

Zimmerman said that in order for a Chick-fil-A to occupy the building, Leelyn Drive needs to be a certain width.  The street currently does not meet the requirement. Chick-fil-A must make improvements to the road or apply for modification or dedicate part of the property to the county.

Zimmerman said she isn’t sure which option Chick-fil-A will pursue.

Mark Mueller, a leasing agent with Baltimore-based Sierra Mid-Atlantic, said that its part in the process is done and that it is waiting for the completion of the site planning approval process.

“It has been taking a while and I am curious myself as to when it will be finished,” Mueller said. “But as of now it is 100 percent out of our hands.”

Dan Beverungem, also with Anne Arundel County Planning and Zoning, said it can be common for the process to take a while.

“The plan was originally submitted in January,” he said. “The timing for a development process can run long if they have a tough time addressing all of the requirements.”

Some Severna Park Patch readers have noticed the amount of time the building has been vacant. “Mike” commented on an old article recently saying the building has become an eyesore.

Are you anxious for the new Chick-fil-A? What are your thoughts on how long the process is taking?