- April 24, 2024
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Flagler County's first Checkers fast-food restaurant is in site-plan review at the city of Palm Coast, according to Chief Development Officer Jason DeLorenzo. If all goes well with plans and financing, it will be built on Old Kings Road, just north of Dollar General.
Checkers "serves burgers, fries, shakes, hot dogs and chicken wings, and it only offers drive-thru services," according to its website.
While Checkers won't create high-paying jobs, it is still good news for the city because it increases the options for local residents to spend their money locally, according to Mayor Milissa Holland.
"That business employs people — it could be your neighbor who is employed by that business," Holland said. "It also allows the [sales] tax dollars to come here, which allows us to improve the community through road maintenance or expansion of parks. ... It’s of great benefit for our residents."
Improvements will begin soon on the intersection at Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway. The Florida Department of Transportation is funding the $6.5 million project, with the city contributing about $400,000 for lighting, engineering and fiber relocation. The city is also planning for up to $600,000 in contingencies; FDOT may contribute up to $350,000 more, to pay for contingencies.
During the project, 8-foot-wide pedestrian paths will be added on both sides of the intersection, from the southern end of Kingswood Drive to Kings Way Road. There will also be curbs and gutters, medians and dedicated turn lanes, said Stormwater and Engineering Director Carl Cote. The traffic signal at Kings Way Road will be upgraded from a span wire to a mast arm signal as well.
The Old Kings improvements will take close to a year, Cote said. Private utility companies are working on relocating cable lines now, and the city will be working on underground aspects of the project in the next week or so. The road work will be done by Halifax Paving.
"In October, we’ll really get moving with the work," Cote said. "It will really help with the movement at that intersection."
South of Palm Coast Parkway, at 2 Old Kings Road, McDonald's has submitted plans for remodeling the company's oldest of four restaurants in the city, DeLorenzo said. The kids' play area will be taken out, and the traffic pattern will be altered so that the north entrance will be removed. The new building will remain on the original footprint.
