Residents near a proposed McDonald's restaurant at the corner of Shiawassee Avenue and West Market Street left an informational meeting Feb. 28 unconvinced the project is right for their neighborhood.

Several said Fairlawn doesn't need a McDonald's, yet John Blickle, owner of the Rubber City Arches franchise, called the nearby market "underserved," and said it's a 12-minute drive to the nearest location.

Over the last week, readers picked up the conversation on Fairlawn-Bath Patch with comments that echoed the critiques aired at last week's meeting, plus a few statements supporting the fast food chain.

Here's what they had to say:

Cindy Visca -- "Mr. Blickle is incorrect in saying it takes 12 minutes to get to another McDonalds's. There is one right down the street in Montrose that takes about 4-5 minutes to reach. There is also another one down in the Valley and one at Walhaven. He is not fooling anyone. We do not need another fast food restaurant in the area."

Richard -- "Mr. Blickle also said the business would employ about 50 employees, mostly from the immediate neighborhood and that he would build a brand new building replacing the existing eye sore. Furthermore the site plan will reduce the existing curb cuts from...4 to only 2."

Patti Renner -- "I'd love a McDonald's there. It's a pain to drive so far off route to the highway to get my morning coffee. And my kids will stay closer in the neighborhood, with another option for part-time employment. We need jobs, not empty parking lots and run down retail strips. It would also attract better businesses to the neighborhood who value the traffic."

David Carl Bergstrom -- "I don't care what goes in there. That lot has been an eyesore for way too long."

Further McDonald's plans will go before the Fairlawn Board of Zoning and Appeals March 21. If they are approved, the project will move to the Planning Commission in April for preliminary approval.