No Decision Yet on New McDonald's

Fairlawn's Board of Zoning Appeals has not yet decided whether plans for a McDonald's at the corner of Shiawassee Avenue and West Market Street can go forward.

The BZA said it would deliberate the facts and made a decision on two variances at its next meeting April 18.

The proposed McDonald's is opposed by nearby residents, who are worried about the traffic and litter the fast-food restaurant may generate in their neighborhood.

The residents voiced their concerns at the BZA meeting Thursday night.

McDonald's proposed a 4,500-square-foot restaurant in November, but the Planning Commission tabled the request after more than 50 residents protested. 

A week later, Larsen Architects asked the BZA to table two variances for the project.

Those variances were heard last week -- a 0.57-acre variance from the minimum lot size requirement of 1.5 acres and a 25-foot minimum parking set back variance to allow 6.8-foot setback from West Market and 7-foot setback from Shiawassee Avenue.

If the variances are approved, the plans could go to the Planning Commission.

John Blickle, whose company, Rubber City Arches, owns 20 area McDonald's restaurants, has said that if the project receives preliminary approval, he will have a traffic study done that would not only look at the impact of the new restaurant on traffic, but could also suggest solutions to the existing tie-ups in the area.

About 35 Fairlawn residents, most from Shiawassee and adjoining streets, attended a public meeting Feb. 26, where Blickle said the fast food restaurant would not increase traffic or crime in the area.

"We do not generate traffic," Blickle told the crowd at the Fairlawn Kiwanis Community Center. "We live off the existing (passing) traffic."