McDonald's Restaurant Given Conditional Approval for Mack Avenue

has been given conditional approval by the City of Detroit to locate on the grounds of the former car dealership much to the dismay of many residents and officials.

A six-page decision issued by the City of Detroit Aug. 23 arrived in the mailboxes of residents who attended a public hearing in mid-June about the land use of the former Lochmoor Chrysler dealership on Mack Avenue, which was weeded and generally cleaned up last week.

According to the letter, 29 conditions are placed upon the fast-food restaurant and must be met in order for the project to go forward. Most involve the proper construction of the building and maintenance of the grounds. It also gives McDonald's a deadline of March 6, 2012 to receive the certificate of occupancy. 

McDonald's officials had originally planned for the 24-hour restaurant to open by early October but that estimate was told to Patch at the hearing—before to be issued.

Detroit hearing officer Robert Davenport received 15 letters of opposition, 22 emails of opposition and one email in support of the proposal—all from residents of Grosse Pointe Farms, according to the approval letter, which notes those opinions were considered.

Many residents and business owners in the area while others believe any thriving business is a better option than the current vacant lot. 

The conditional approval follows the submission of a traffic impact study submitted to Detroit officials regarding the intersection of Mack Avenue at Canyon Street in Detroit. Canyon Street continues beyond Mack Avenue into Grosse Pointe Farms, where the street is named Moran.

Residents on Moran questioned why a traffic study wasn't done during the public hearing, voicing concerns about the amount of traffic the restaurant would draw and essentially pour into a residential area with many children. 

The study submitted by McDonald's was reviewed by an independent firm, which found that it followed industry standards in both its methodology and calculation to determine that the restaurant is unlikely to create additional traffic or require alterations to the infrastructure currently located at the intersection. 

Farms Mayor James Farquhar submitted a letter opposing the McDonald's, as fast food restaurants have long since been banned from the Pointes. was grandfathered in as it was in existence before the ban.

Patch is awaiting a return phone call from Farquhar as well as from the future owner/operator Savarior Service, which owns several other McDonald's throughout the metro area. The proprietor was not immediately available to talk Monday afternoon but said she would call back to provide more details about what residents should expect to see in the coming weeks.

While the decision has been issued, it could still be appealed with the Detroit Zoning Board of Appeals through Sept. 6. If no appeals are filed, the decision becomes final.

The 4,362 square-foot restaurant will feature double drive-through lanes that will abut Mack Avenue. It will have 52 parking spaces with an entrance and exit both on Canyon Street and Mack Avenue and be heavily landscaped. One of the conditions of the approval is the building be completed in earth tones and that lighting of the structure and parking lot not "bleed over" to other businesses or area residents.

As a concept restaurant, it will have what one McDonald's official called a "Starbucky" feel to it rather than well-known children's character feel.