HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 09-24 Residents lose fight against McDonald's THE REVIEW Minnesota M Single Copy 30; WED., SEPT. 24, 1980
Residents
lose fight
against
McDonald 's
By MARY LEE HAGERT residents living near the future ZONING CHANGE TABLED
. McDonald's. Maplewood residents living along
Despite the objections of an. area Anton Duppong, 2705 E. Minnehaha Arcade Street expressed mixed reactions
business and neighbors, a McDonald's Ave., told council members that runoff to the city council's proposal to amend the
restaurant and a convenience center will water following a storm frequently stands city's zoning code to establish residential
be constructed in southern Maplewood. two feet deep at,the intersection of estate districts.
The Maplewood City Council was asked Minnehaha and Century.He said he fears The ordinance was specifically aimed
Sept. 18 to reconsider an earlier decision the construction of the McDonald's will at a neighborhood west of Keller Lake and
approving the McDonald's plan by the make the drainage problems worse. east of Arcade Street. Many of the long,
city's Design and Review Board. That narrow wooded lots bordering Keller
request came from Clinton McLagan, an Bill Bittner, Maplewood city engineer, Lake have been split.The construction of
attorney for the Dairy Queen located told the council and audience that the additional homes in the affluent neigh-
north of the proposed restaurant. plans proposed by the property owners, borhood has bothered some of the
However, members of the city council Dick Ernst and Nasim Quisha, will im- residents.
decided to uphold the Design and Review prove the overall storm water drainage If adopted the new estate zoning
Board's decision, thereby allowing the system in the area. "Storage capacity of category would have required lots be
construction of the fast-food restaurant. storm water will increase drastically with 20,000 square feet or more in certain
The McDonald's and the small shopping this plan," he said. neighborhoods.
center will be located on the southwest The purpose of the proposed residential
corner of. Minnehaha and Century "HOW ARE they going to build this estate zoning is to protect larger single
Avenues in Maplewood. restaurant on land that has such a high family neighborhoods from subdivisions,
McLagan said his client believes the water table?"asked Councilman Norman which would result in lots out of character
development(restaurant and center) will Anderson. with the remaining neighborhood.,
create more traffic hazards in an already "That will be worked out between the The city council members tabled the
congested area. developer and his engineer," Bittner first reading of the amendment until until
responded. Oct.16.The ordinance was referred back
"Century and Minnehaha already are Ernst explained his plans to place fill to city staff for changes.
Ctr placesand rtrafficardirt on his land and to construct a new The council also tabled an agenda'item
re dangerous lac cause thiss (thecitymanywater retention pond have the approval of to rezone the property between Arcade
p the Ramsey-Washington Metro Water- Street and,Keller Lake to the proposed
headaches in the years to come. shed District. residential estate zoning.This matter will
"The kind of traffic McDonald's will "Through the building of a new pond, be reconsidered at the Nov. 20 council
get,will come during the rush hour. This the need for constructing a new storm meeting.
intersection is already congested during sewer system in the neighborhood will be -. . '
this time period," McLagan stated. postponed," Ernst said. '
Anglo Tuccitto, 2706 E. Margaret St., The impact of the increased traffic
echoed the attorney's concerns. He told created by the restaurant at the busy
council members that the growth of the intersection was reviewed by the Min-
3M plant has worsened the traffic nesota Department of Transportation.
situation in his neighborhood."During the
rush hour, cars are now backed up to The office's suggestions were in- j
Margaret, and it will be worse once corporated into the final design plans. j
McDonald's is built," he stated. McDonald's will be a 3,680 square foot,
one-story building. It will have a brick
exterior, Mansard roof and a drive-up
THE DAIRY QUEEN attorney also service window.There will be 49 spaces in
questioned the potential adverse en- the parking lot.
`vironmental impact of filling an existing The city is requiring the restaurant to
swamp to build a restaurant. He feared have adequate landscaping to screen it
drainage problems could be created in the from neighboring homes.
immediate area and downstream. The shopping center will have space for
The planned restaurant and shopping several businesses, such as a barber or
center construction call for filling of a beauty shop, insurance office or small
swampy area and the building of a new superette.The owners do not have leases
water holding pond on higher ground. signed for any of the future occupants of
His sentiments were repeated by the center.