Chick-fil-A continues expanding its footprint in Michigan with a location planned for the downriver community of Woodhaven. The fast-food chain known for its fried chicken sandwiches has signed on as a standalone tenant at a new development planned on West Road near Allen.

Chick-fil-A, an Atlanta-based chain, announced plans for locations in Allen Park, Novi, Roseville and Shelby Township within the last six months.

The Woodhaven location is part of a development from Alrig USA Development based in Bingham Farms. Called The Park Promenade, the project covers 9 acres and, Crain’s Detroit Business reported, is an $11 million development and will also feature a new park with an amphitheater. Five buildings will be on the site geared for retail, office and health and wellness and one building will house Chick-fil-A, the developers said.

The project is expected to bring 400 jobs to the area, and was approved by the Woodhaven City Council on July 16. It is anchored by the current Meijer store located off West and Allen roads.

The property has been vacant for nearly 30 years because of environmental concerns and Alrig will work with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to designate it as a brownfield site, according to the release. They expect to break ground in the fall with tenants opening in spring of 2020.

While Chick-fil-A earns the top spot for fast food on the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s (ACSI) report for 2019, the chain is also controversial because of comments made by CEO Dan Cathy opposing same-sex marriage and the chains financial support of organizations reported to oppose LGBTQ rights.

In recent years, the company claimed it would “leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government."

Within the last six months, Chick-fil-A has been the target of protests in several U.S. cities. In San Antonio and Buffalo, New York, city councils declined to approve plans by Chick-fil-A to open at airports.

In Michigan, Chick-fil-A has existing restaurants at Oakland University, Somerset Mall, Detroit Medical Center's Harper University Hospital and Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

More:Chick-fil-A wants to open 2 more locations in metro Detroit

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More:Chick-fil-A to open in Roseville as chain expands across metro Detroit

Contact Susan Selasky at 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.