Chick-fil-A, Dutch Bros projects progressing at Indio’s ‘The Greens’ development

Two popular restaurant chains are moving closer to opening new locations in north Indio as part of “The Greens” development project near the Indio Municipal Golf Course.

During Wednesday’s Indio City Council meeting, Community Development Director Brian Halverson confirmed that both Chick-fil-A and Dutch Bros Coffee are moving forward with their plans at the commercial center being developed at the northeast corner of Jackson Street and Avenue 42.

“The new Chick-fil-A that I know everybody’s looking forward to is in plan check, as well as the Dutch Brothers,” Halverson told council members during discussions about the project.

Halverson also revealed that AutoZone will propose a “large addition” next week to complement the retail component of the development.

The update came as council members discussed amendments to conditions that had previously been approved for the 6.12-acre commercial center. The amendments relate to underground utilities, landscaping along the median, and frontage improvements along Avenue 42.

According to Halverson, these conditions were discussed at a November 2023 Planning Commission meeting but weren’t properly carried forward into the resolution approved by the council in December.

“I’m going to give props to the applicant because they actually brought it to our attention,” Halverson said. “The applicant’s on board. City staff is on board with those amended conditions.”

Councilmember Benjamin Guitron expressed satisfaction with the progress at the development site, which broke ground in a ceremony attended by several council members.

“There’s been a lot of Measure E funds invested in this project as well, and collaborative partnerships and development growth,” Guitron said. “It was a big day, the day that we did the groundbreaking.”

The fast-food restaurants will join a growing presence of both chains in the Coachella Valley. Dutch Bros opened its first valley location in La Quinta in 2020, followed by a central Indio location the next year. Chick-fil-A opened its first Coachella Valley restaurant in Palm Desert near Interstate 10 in 2022 and has discussed opening another in La Quinta. Despite some controversy, a Palm Springs location was recently approved by that city’s Planning Commission.

The Greens development will include three total fast-food restaurants and one sit-down establishment with an outdoor area facing the golf course. The project also includes rebuilding the existing golf course parking lot and adding 245 new car parking spaces and 10 bike spaces.

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