The town of Westborough will soon be home to a 4,700-square-foot site for Atlanta-based chicken restaurant Chick-Fil-A, the first Massachusetts location since plans for a Boston spot were dropped last year.

On Sept. 3, the town’s Planning Board approved a special permit for the restaurant, which would also be the first freestanding Massachusetts location. Massachusetts is currently home to two Chick-Fil-A restaurants at the Burlington Mall and the Northshore Mall in Peabody, according to the Chick-Fil-A website.

A special permit was required for the new building, which will be located at 290 Turnpike Road. Town Planner Jim Robbins said a special permit is required for every new use of Route 9 and Speedway Plaza land.

Zoning requirements led the Planning Board to amend the permit to include the condition of an additional acreage to the back of the property. Town zoning laws make it necessary for Chick-Fil-A to replace space lost in the construction.  

"I think it’s going to be a good use in town. There are a lot of restaurants on Route 9 and formula restaurants like Chick-Fil-A tend to do well in that area," Robbins told Banker & Tradesman.

The Westborough location will be the first new Massachusetts location since the company came under fire for Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy’s statements opposing gay marriage.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino urged the chain to back out of its plans for a Boston location in a July 2012 public letter, saying that "you can’t have a business in Boston that discriminates against a population."

The company released statements in September and October 2012, saying that its corporate giving was being "mischaracterized" and that they treat all people with respect, regardless of sexual orientation.

While Mayor Menino later admitted he could not ban the company from Boston, plans for the Boston location were eventually dropped.

Chick-Fil-A did not respond to requests for comment on the Westborough location plans or its history in Boston. Lawyers for the company present at the Sept. 3 meeting told the Planning Board the restaurant chain was excited to come to Westborough.

Building and site plans must go through the Westborough Building Department and Board of Selectmen before construction can begin. Representatives from both departments said that could happen as early as next month, but no date has currently been set.