JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The long battle between Oceanway neighbors and Chick-fil-A is over.
In a 12-7 vote, Jacksonville city council voted in favor of the proposed fast-food restaurant, which will go inside the North Creek Subdivision.
A traffic study concluded Chick-fil-A would be able to contain traffic in the area, but neighbors disagree.
Neighbors said traffic from the restaurant will cause backups and safety issues in their neighborhood.
Tuesday night, there appeared to be some momentum on the side of neighbors as several council members spoke against the proposal.
“There’s no way I can support this," Councilmember Matt Carlucci said.
“There’s no do over," Councilmember Mike Gay said.
"There’s no food deserts for Chick-fil-A’s, we have enough Chick-fil-A's," councilmember Tyrona Clark-Murray said.
But that conversation came to a quick halt as Councilmember Rory Diamond called to end the discussion and move to a final vote.
Christine Brundage, who lives in Oceanway, called out Diamond and the other 11 council members who voted for the proposal. “It is absurd that a city council, elected by the people, are more worried about being sued, as the LUZ [Land Use & Zoning] said, by Chick-fil-A."
“They put a Chick-fil-A, a corporation out of Georgia, ahead of the Jacksonville citizens who live right next door,” David Clark, an Oceanway neighbor, said.
Neighbors said they need to regroup before making their next move but did say suing the city is an option.