Onalaska council approves Chick-Fil-A application for Fauver Hill site

A new Chick-Fil-A restaurant was given the green light from the Onalaska city council. 

On Tuesday night, council members approved the plan to build the chicken franchise, as part of a shopping center planned for the former Fauver Hill School site along Highway 16. 

Some area residents have objected to the plan because of the political and social beliefs of the family that owns the Chick-Fil-A chain. 

At the council meeting, one of the biggest concerns was managing traffic at the intersection where the restaurant would be built, across the highway from Target. 

A developer for the project said the shopping center remains in the plans, because the lot owned by Gundersen Health System is too large to only be used for a restaurant.

This is the first Chick-Fil-A outlet planned for the immediate La Crosse area. 

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Kim Smith announced that Onalaska’s parks are open, but the park restrooms are locked. 

Smith says she’s been getting questions about removing yard waste in Onalaska. 

Arrangements can be made with City Hall to have yard waste placed in bags or special carts, and picked up before the end of April.