Two months after a public meeting with Ellis Avenue residents McDonald’s representatives are set to show its plan to Maplewood Plan and Zoning for a new McDonald’s on the southwest corner of Manchester and Big Bend.
The McDonald’s would be at the end of Ellis Avenue at Big Bend, and the last plan shown includes the rezoning and removal of two houses on Ellis.
Resident Jackie Adams commented on 40 South News that McDonald’s representatives will appear at the Maplewood Plan and Zoning meeting Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
She told 40 South News Saturday by email that Ellis Avenue residents received a letter from the City of Maplewood dated February 18 signed by city public works director, Anthony Traxler, telling them of the meeting. The meeting isn’t yet posted on the city website.
McDonald’s will bring “proposed site plans and a request for a Planned Unit Development District (PUD) to the Plan and Zoning Commission for their review and recommendations to the City Council at the upcoming Plan and Zoning Commission meeting,” according to Adams.
McDonald’s backed out of a Maplewood Planning and Zoning meeting in January, saying they needed time to prepare, and didn’t contact the city to appear in February.
McDonald’s representatives didn’t have many answers that satisfied Ellis Avenue residents for questions about extra traffic, noise from drive-thru windows, and other issues in a December meeting. See also: Schaefer Shell to warranty all work if forced out: owner
I dislike the idea of losing any more houses in Maplewood. We lost a number of them through the Walmart and Lowes developments plus off of Hanley/Flora/Laclede Station Road more recently. Other than that, I’m not opposed to McDonald’s relocating there.
The difference between Tim Hortons and McD’s is the traffic will exit on to Ellis. It will back up traffic on Ellis. It’s hard enough now to get out of Ellis as it is now without McD’s. I wish the city leaders would read the Maplewood “Comprehensive Plan” and see that McD’s doesn’t fit. It’s all about the money
Just what Maplewood needs. Another 24hr drive thru.
Try to stop it in the P&Z because you only have maybe two members of the City Council who will listen to residents.
Matt – we heard the same crying for QT and when the residents voted it was a landslide. not even close. Maybe the two members you speak of should listen to all of the residents and not just the crybabies. Say what you want about QT, Mcd’s and Hortons, but to insinuate the council doesn’t listen to the residents is wrong. Gather some signatures, lets have another community vote and lets see what council members are listening to.
You immediately negate the validity of your reply by calling anyone who disagrees with you a “crybaby.” We are adults, correct? Name calling does not need to be a part of this.
Well said, also “listen up” and all others, you should post your name. That might encourage a more civilized response. If you’re anonymous, it’s easier to be mean and call names…
You’re right, let’s have a civilized conversation. It is easier to be mean and call names being anonymous. Agreed. My mistake for name calling. I apologize to everyone I offended. For many reasons I wish to remain anonymous, and quite frankly, I see your name and have no idea who you are, and don’t care. Here’s my issue, I’ve read many post on 40southnews stating that the council and mayor do not listen to the residents. I heard the same thing with QT. When the vote came in with QT it was 960 yes, 419 no. 70% of the residents voted for QT and supported Maplewood officials. Two questions. 1. If the residents voted for Mcdonalds would the vote be different. 2. Name an issue where the MAJORITY of the residents was in favor of something and the council/mayor totally disregarded the people.
To the “listenup” post…
The point is well taken. I don’t think there is an issue with the council siding with the majority in any situation. But I believe that part of the issue with some residents feeling like they are not being heard is on how these projects are being carried out. If the council put a little more effort into appeasing all sides, there would be even fewer people in the minority (I get that some folks will never come around to saying yes). So while a majority did vote in favor of the QT, if the traffic concerns with the school would have been worked out, then the 70% would have been 85% in favor.
This becomes an even bigger concern when you start talking about businesses like Tim Hortons and potentially McDs that border residential lots. While a majority of people may have voted in favor of building TH if it came down to a vote, that should not mean the city council should just give a free pass to TH to build however they want. To be fair, some negotiating did occur, but the council appeared to place more support behind the business than the home owner. No one who will have to bare the burden of the council’s approval more than those residents next to the TH, yet the council did not put more pressure on TH.
Measuring success based solely on whether the majority is okay with the decision is going to leave much to be desired in the long run. It is very important to have the minority voice. The council should be working to convince them to vote yes. In the end, the project will come out much better for everyone.
Is it the P&Z committee’s responsibility to vote against a plan they find to be inappropriate for the space (such as they want a more “urban design” or ” a McDs should not go there”) even if the plan meets all the codes and regulations set forth? Or is that a decision for the city council?
If P&Z approved the drive thru and traffic concerns with the Tim Horton’s case, then I wouldn’t see why this is going to be any different. Maybe the rezoning of two lots will plays into this more than I suspect.
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