News Summary
The Giving Tree Montessori School has filed a lawsuit against Chick-fil-A and Verus Development Group due to concerns about a new restaurant construction near the school. The school argues that the Chick-fil-A project violates city zoning laws prohibiting fast-food establishments within 500 feet of educational institutions. Safety and traffic issues have been raised as significant concerns by the school’s owner, as the development could affect student safety and enrollment. The lawsuit seeks to halt construction and challenge the city’s approval.
Detroit – The Giving Tree Montessori School has initiated legal proceedings against Chick-fil-A and Verus Development Group over concerns related to a new restaurant construction on Mack Avenue. The lawsuit highlights violations of city zoning laws, particularly a city ordinance that prohibits fast-food restaurants from being established within 500 feet of educational institutions.
The Montessori school, while only officially registered in June 2024, argues that the Chick-fil-A project should have sought a land use change before beginning construction. The timing of the school’s registration has raised questions regarding its legal standing, especially as the Chick-fil-A development was approved prior to this registration. However, the school maintains that the city’s approval process was improper given the proximity to the development.
Owner of Giving Tree Montessori School, Renee Chown, has raised significant safety concerns, stating that the presence of a fast-food restaurant right next to the school is not in the best interest of the children’s safety. The construction has already led to the fencing off of the school’s playground, indicating immediate effects on the school environment.
According to site plans, the drive-thru lane of the restaurant is designed to run parallel to the school’s property line, which presents additional concerns regarding student privacy and safety. Chown has expressed fears that traffic disruption from the Chick-fil-A restaurant could complicate the pickup and drop-off processes for students, creating hazardous situations during peak times.
In October 2023, the city’s initial rejection of Chick-fil-A’s proposal stemmed from concerns over traffic in the area. However, in March 2024, the Detroit Board of Zoning Appeals overturned this decision. They instructed that the drive-thru entrances and exits be oriented towards Mack Avenue, rather than the adjacent Marseilles Street, to alleviate some concerns. Despite this change, the school believes that traffic flow will still impact the area surrounding the school significantly.
The lawsuit posits that the operational safety of the Montessori School is at risk from the restaurant’s development, which could ultimately lead to a decrease in enrollment or even potential closure. The legal action seeks a court order to halt the construction activities and a judicial declaration that the city’s decision to permit the restaurant was inappropriate under existing zoning regulations.
Aside from legal matters, the development has sparked considerable opposition from parents, educators, and local residents. Many of these stakeholders have publicly expressed their concerns at meetings, particularly regarding safety implications associated with increased vehicle traffic, noise, and exhaust emissions that would directly affect the outdoor play area utilized by young children at the school.
Demolition work on the Chick-fil-A site commenced in May 2025, reportedly without adequate notification or protective fencing, prompting a temporary cessation of construction by city officials. A sign advertising “Chick-fil-A Coming Soon” was posted shortly after construction activities began, adding to the sense of controversy surrounding the project.
Attempts to reach representatives of Verus Development Group or Chick-fil-A for comments regarding the ongoing lawsuit have thus far been unsuccessful.
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Additional Resources
- Click On Detroit: Detroit School Sues Chick-fil-A
- Metro Times: Montessori School Sues to Stop Chick-fil-A Development
- Detroit Free Press: Chick-fil-A Fan Freebie Sandwich
- AOL: Chick-fil-A Expands Michigan Footprint
- Crain’s Detroit: Chick-fil-A Expanding in Michigan
- Wikipedia: Chick-fil-A
- Google Search: Chick-fil-A Montessori School Lawsuit
