Chick-fil-A is one step closer to opening its doors in Cambria County, following unanimous approval from Richland Township’s Zoning Hearing Board. Officials granted setback variances that allow the popular fast-food chain to move forward with construction plans for a new restaurant along Scalp Avenue.

At Wednesday’s public hearing, the board authorized setback changes permitting construction 33 feet closer to Constable Avenue and four feet nearer to Frances Street than current zoning regulations allow. These modifications will enable Chick-fil-A to include a drive-thru canopy and a dumpster enclosure in its design.

The restaurant, planned for 1130 Scalp Avenue—the former site of Wolf Furniture—will require demolition of the existing building to make way for a new modern facility and drive-thru. Justin Thornton, a civil engineer with Colliers Engineering and Design, said the company is targeting a 2027 opening.

To maintain the area’s visual appeal, the project includes landscaping improvements, including the addition of evergreen trees to provide screening along Frances Street and Constable Avenue. The property’s owner, Butterfli Holdings LLC, intends to subdivide the site, leasing the remaining space to an additional business.

Once completed, the new Chick-fil-A is expected to employ between 15 and 20 local workers and operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant will sit directly across from McDonald’s on Scalp Avenue, offering residents and travelers another convenient dining choice in the busy Richland Township corridor.