Daxon: Raising Cane’s approved to roost in Brea

The Brea City Council last week denied an appeal trying to prevent Raising Cane’s from opening in the Gaslight Square.

The council voted 3-2 against the appeal that challenged previous approval given to changing the Conditional Use Permit at the Gaslight Square, so property owner Manley Fanticola Holdings can now proceed to demolish two buildings facing Imperial Highway and allow Raising Cane’s in the center.

While many people are anxious for Raising Cane’s to open in Brea and offer its chicken fingers, several of them do not want it located across from Laurel Elementary Magnet School of Innovation & Career Exploration. City Clerk Lillian Harris-Neal received 56 emails opposed to Raising Cane’s at Gaslight Square and 16 for it prior to the council’s Feb. 16 meeting.

And, about 50 adults, children and a couple dogs were out Feb. 13 waving signs on Imperial Highway protesting the prospects of Raising Cane’s opening across from Laurel School.  They got lots of honks from passing vehicles and were on the CBS local news that night.

Zoom comments during the council meeting including support from the Brea Chamber of Commerce and strong opposition from Dr. Brooks Larsen, whose dental office is in Gaslight Square. He said the restaurant would negatively affect his business and drive away patients. Dr. Larsen, his family and dog were among the sign-holding protesters.

The dental and orthodontic offices in Gaslight Square are separately owned.

Other Zoom callers included residents living near Gaslight Square concerned about traffic and noise the chicken restaurant would create, being open 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Caller Diane Stites expressed disappointment in the school district, even though its board voted 3-2 in opposition to the project.  According to Superintendent Brad Mason, the board majority was opposed while two were in favor of the project with necessary traffic and safety mitigation measured addressed.

To some people, having a list of mitigations for a project the board opposed seems counter productive, but perhaps it will be a way for Brea’s oldest school to find a solution for the daily line of parents’ cars dropping off or picking up students that often extends onto Imperial Highway.

The Brea council seemed agreeable to helping BOUSD make improvements in a drop-off and pick-up area, and the school district could add fencing and other safety measures around the 100-year-old campus.

After coordinating with the city and school district, demolition will begin, Dwight Manley, who owns the property where the project would go, said via email. “It will be fully fenced and secure.”

He noted that the two doctors’ offices would each have 11 to 12 reserved parking spaces and Manley said the doctor who runs orthodontics office that faces Orange Avenue told him “he is very happy with the efforts we are making.”

Kelly Hansen, Raising Cane’s divisional leader of marketing, said via email: “We plan to partner with the school community, local neighbor organizations and the City Council to address concerns and find solutions to improve traffic and pedestrian safety for all in the area.”

Expect the restaurant construction to start next summer, Hansen said.

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at  daxoncomm@gmail.com.

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