Camp Hill Chick-Fil-A Ban Upheld by Courts

A state court upheld a decision by Camp Hill officials to reject the controversial plan for a Chick-fil-A restaurant in the borough.

• West Shore developer Michael Serluco and his company, Consolidated Properties, had hoped to plant the restaurant and drive-thru near the relatively busy intersection of 32nd and Chestnut streets.
• But the idea drew opposition from some in the community -- mostly over traffic concerns. The Camp Hill council ultimately denied Serluco's plan in December 2019.
• Serluco appealed the decision to Cumberland County court, which upheld the borough's decision in an October 2020 ruling.
• Serluco appealed to Commonwealth Court, which sided with the borough in a 26-page decision issued yesterday and written by Judge Michael H. Wojcik.
• "Borough council is currently reviewing the decision with its attorneys but it is pleased the Commonwealth Court affirmed the council's decision to deny Consolidated Properties' land development plan," borough solicitor Lee Stinnett said.
• Efforts to reach Serluco and his attorneys were not successful.

What's the argument: It hinged partly on specifics of the plan, but also on what Serluco claims were flaws in the council's denial.

• Among other complaints, Serluco argued that officials did not act in good faith and "conspired" in secret meetings to make approval difficult, according to the ruling.
• The borough countered that the allegedly secret meetings were legitimate executive sessions held to discuss retention of special counsel in the case.