Business & Tech

McDonald's Bid for Cedar Point Commons Shot Down by Planning Commission

While the commission did not recommend the city council approve the fast food chain's requests, a public hearing before the council is scheduled for July 9, 2013.

Editor's Note: The article was originally published June 27, 2013.

Despite making some compelling arguments, McDonald's attempt to get the Richfield Planning Commission's recommendation to build at Cedar Point Commons fell flat Monday night.

McDonald's has been working for two years to create a design plan to build on the vacant northwest corner of 66th Street.

On Monday night, the fast food chain was hoping the commission would recommend a resolution for the city council to approve requests to amend the planned unit development, grant a conditional use permit and green-light the final development plan for the site. The planning commission unanimously voted to deny the resolution, upholding city staff recommendations.

Staff presented a number of reasons for recommending the denial of the resolution, including parking, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and inconsistent building materials. But staff's biggest concern centered around the positioning of the restaurant on the site.

The site plans place the majority of the parking on the *west side of the building, next to the Mouth Calvary School parking lot, with the drive-thru ordering area facing 66th Street East. The main entrance is shown on the north side of the building, which until the rest of the parcel is redeveloped, would face an empty lot.

City planner Melissa Poehlman described the orientation of building as "turning its back" on the rest of the development and main streets. Zoned as a planned unit development, Cedar Point Commons is meant to be seen as a singular, cohesive development. Poehlman, along with Richfield Community Development director John Stark, stated the current site design does not meet the requirements of the zoning.

McDonald's representatives made a great attempt to show the design plans were consistent with Richfield's ordinance and zoning requirements, as well as consistent with the rest of the development. Photos of the proposed building materials matched to the existing buildings were shown, which McDonald's believed to be a perfect match. McDonald's also argued the buildings housing Caribou Coffee and Noodles & Company also butted up to 66th Street. Representatives also promised to work closely with the city to mitigate concerns over increased traffic and delivery trucks crossing the newly established Three Rivers Park Regional Trail along Richfield Parkway.

Ultimately, while the majority of the commission members were pro-McDonald's, many felt the restaurant simply didn't fit on that particular site, using the "square peg, round hole" analogy.

However, it's not over for McDonald's. The city council will hold a public hearing on the proposed project during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. July 9, 2013. The council could grant McDonald's requests. 

Richfield Patch will update readers on the council's decision.

How do you feel about McDonald's potentially building at Cedar Point Commons?

Editor's Note: 
A correction was made to the location of the proposed parking area for McDonald's.


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