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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 10-22 Citizens try to stop McDonald's rezoning THE REVIEW Citizens try to stop McDonald's rezoning ori..212w While most people like to stop at a He pointed out that there are no "At the time Mr.Steak went in,concern are public and anyone can run over McDonald's Restaurant for a quick meal, sidewalks along Roselawn Avenue.He is was expresed by the residents in the area. them,"Lais stated. almost no one wants to live next door to concerned that children walking to school At that time I stated I did not feel a Mr. The city has to come up with a whole one. on the edges of the busy street may be Steak would have the impact on the neigh- package of things that will be sustained in Thatseemed to be the message often endangered if traffic is increased sub- borhood of a McDonald's.I voted in favor court as legitimate reasons for turning repeated by a group of neighbors at a stantially. of the zone change for the Mr.Steak." down a rezoning request. Citizen ob- Maplewood City Council meeting Oct.M. "We have problems right now due to On the basis of that previous vote, jections can be one reason,but it can't be McDonald's Corporation is asking to traffic. Sometimes I have to wait five Fischer said she voted against the zone the only one,Lais continued. have a 1.4 acre parcel along Sloan Place minutes to drive out of my driveway onto change for the property for the proposed Bill Bittner,city engineer,pointed out near Roselawn Avenue rezoned from Roselawn..What will it be like if a McDonald's. that in 1978 there were 4;300 vehicles per commercial office to business com- McDonald's goes in?" day traveling on Roselawn Ave. The mercial to allow the construction of a The proposed restaurant will be flanked Phil Zins,306 E.Belwood Ave.,said, addition of 300 cars per day from a restaurant. by a Mr.Steak restaurant on the south, "I've only lived in Maplewood-for three McDonald's Restaurant will probably not After hearing from a host of angry National Cash Register Corporation to the years and I've already appeared before be viewed as having a major impact by residents in the area, the city council north,and will overlook Interstate BE to you(the city council)three times.I am the courts,Bittner said. members tabled action on the matter the west. pleading with the council to recognize the until the Nov.6 meeting.The meeting was On a 6-2 vote,the Maplewood Planning wishes of the neighborhood and turn down "I'm willing to fight this to the bitter laid over because the McDonald's Cor- Commission recommended the city the rezoning." - end,even if it means the city has to go to poration 'was unable to have a council approve the zoning change.The court,"Zins said firmly. representative at the meeting. The commission pointed out that the rezoning Mayor John Greavu pointed out that the State Sen.Jerome Hughes,1978 Payne council members said they have is"consistent with the spirit and intent" rezoning of the land is consistent with the Ave.,said,"I do not live very far from questions for the corporate officials about of the city's land use plan and the city's land use plan.He said,if the council this area and I'm aware of the traffic the rezoning application. proposed rezoning will not "injure or turns down the proposal without"valid problems. detract" from the use of neighboring reasons"the city might be sued by the "This has been a residential area for JOHN THOMAS,328 E.Roselawn Ave., properties. corporation."This city can't afford to lose ' some time, and the people have told the council members,"With the size another lawsuit,"Greavu said. tolerated the Mr.Steak.We know that the of their (McDonald's) corporation, it WHILE THE existing sewer capacity ' proposed rezoning is appropriate under surprises me that they couldn't spring for this area is presently overloaded,the "AREN'T TRAFFIC problems valid the land use plan,but we urge the council loose anyone to attend this meeting." commissioners and city staff do not feet reasons?",Zins asked. to stay with the present zone in the plan. Thomas continued, "During the the proposed restaurant would City Attorney Don Lais told the "I think there is a potential of another summer months we can't sleep with our significantly add to the deficiency. audience that traffic problems by purchaser of that property,"Hughes said. windows open because of the traffic noise. Lorraine Fischer, one of the two themselves are not legitimate reasons to "None of us are against a McDonald's With a McDonald's nearby, it will get planning commissioners voting against 'turn a proposal down according to the per se.But,we are opposed to it in this even worse." the zone change proposal,told the council, legal courts."The court says all streets nice residential area."