In spite of what Maplewood city staff say now, according to a McDonald’s representative McDonald’s will not be on the March plan and zoning agenda for a new location on the southwest corner of Manchester and Big Bend.
After hearing from a source Feb. 17 that McDonald’s would be on the Maplewood Plan and Zoning agenda in March, 40 South News emailed the city about it and received a reply that the agenda hadn’t been set. The meeting date has been changed from March 2 to March 4.
40 South News also asked McDonald’s area real estate manager, Kiley Mills by email and phone on Feb. 17 and didn’t get a reply.
Days after that, an Ellis Avenue resident received a letter from the city that McDonald’s will be on the March 4 plan and zoning agenda.
Now, according to Mills, McDonald’s will not be at the meeting. A short reply to the Feb. 17 email, received Feb. 24, stated only, “We will not be on the agenda.” She didn’t reply to further questions about McDonald’s plans.
Checking with Maplewood City Manager Marty Corcoran, he replied by email, “I have not received anything in writing or email in regards to them not being on the P&Z agenda. As of now they will be on the agenda.”
To confirm McDonald’s intentions, Corcoran’s statement was sent to Mills, and she replied, “We are aware and my previous statement still stands.”
So far, McDonald’s representatives have met with Ellis Avenue residents on Dec. 22, and have had no meetings with the city. They backed out of the January plan and zoning meeting, and didn’t schedule to be at February plan and zoning.
Doug, do you know what else is on the P and Z meeting for March 4th? Why did they change from the normal Monday to a Wednesday? This to me doesn’t pass the smell test.
Gus’s Fried Chicken and a massage studio in the 7300 block of Manchester are on the March 4 agenda. P&Z is on a Wednesday in April too. Don’t know why Wednesday.
Thanks Doug.
What with the run around? How sleazy can you actually get? (I know…no need to answer that)
What does all of this run-around mean? Is this something McDonald’s does in other areas too? Is it possible McDonald’s no longer wants to build at that location, or is this a song and dance they do to get what they want?
If I wanted a nice quiet Planning and Zoning meeting with NO opponents there, I would keep vacillating about the date and then try to jump back on the agenda before anyone realized what was going on.
If you plan to oppose the McDonalds move, keep checking with City Hall about the agenda. AND, please note that the P+Z meeting has been changed from the usual Monday, to March 4, a Wednesday.
The franchise is McFull-Of-Itself. We do not need a mcdonalds at Hanley by Home DePot and then one 10 minutes away. Brentwood /Maplewood/ RH needs to look at diversifying and not be so ‘chain’ store driven. They are here; then they are gone. I patronize the ‘mom and pop’ places.