McDonald's Deserves a Break Today, Council Decides

By Erica Williams
Staff Writer

April 9 -- Eight years in the making, a proposed three-story office and retail complex on the McDonald's site near the pier sits on the verge of winning final approval after a conditional nod from the City Council Tuesday night.

Eager to eliminate "blight" on the corner of Second Street and Colorado Avenue, the council with a 6 to 1 vote directed staff to return next month with the documents necessary to approve the 75,000-square-foot project, which would include a redesigned McDonald's on the ground floor.

The council also gave the developer ten days to address potential gridlock by connecting the project's surface parking with its subterranean garage. It also wants the developer -- Realty Bancorp Equities -- to consider eliminating the Colorado exit that could cause vehicles to compete with crowds of pedestrians visiting the pier.

"I think that this is generally a well-conceived project, and the City would be better off with it than without it," said Councilman Ken Genser. "I think when you look at the specifics here, the adverse impacts are relatively insignificant."

"What would be the downside of having this business there as opposed to what we have now?" asked Councilman Bob Holbrook. "I think that this will be a wonderful improvement to Second and Colorado. I'm persuaded."

But Councilman Michael Feinstein, who cast the dissenting vote, lambasted the project, saying it suffered from "a major lack of vision."

"I think it's a colossal missed opportunity to unite the Downtown," Feinstein said, referring to the City's vision to connect the Civic Center, the pier and the Third Street Promenade.

"This project, as designed, does nothing to facilitate the entry of people from the pier," Feinstein said. "This strikes me as wholly mediocre. It's just another office building with a restaurant on the bottom."

Councilmember Pam O'Connor generally agreed with Feinstein, but said she would approve the project because it improved "a blighted corner with a McDonald's island in a sea of parking."

"This project better serves the whole Downtown than a suburban model," O'Connor said. "Maybe it's not the best it could be, but it's better" than what we have now. O'Connor added that it serves the City's hotel workers and provides social benefits to those with low incomes.

Most of the eight members of the public who addressed the council favored the Mediterranean-style project, which was turned down 6-to-0 by the Planning Commission in December.

Ellen Brennan, a member of the Pier Restoration Corporation Board (which voted to support the project), welcomed the 190 additional public parking spaces provided by the development, which will include a total of 300 spaces.

"Wouldn't it be a crime to turn down 190 spaces," said Brennan. "It's a beautiful building. Its Mediterranean style is harmonious. The project is right for the site... We owe it to our visitors to have a nice McDonald's."

Art Harris, a member of the Bayside board (which also supports the project), said it would benefit the Downtown.

"I think that the Downtown would gain and that everyone would gain," said Harris, who lives within a block of the project. "This would be an improvement."

But Planning Commissioner Kelly Olsen warned that the lack of a connection between the parking lots was a "fatal flaw."

"The real issue here is the parking and the traffic," said Olsen, adding that the 30 spaces reserved for the fast food restaurant weren't enough.

Before the project can move forward, the council must grant several discretionary approvals, which it is expected to do at its meeting May 13.

They include a text amendment because no new fast food outlets are allowed in the district. The amendment also is needed for the restaurant to operate after hours and in the early morning.

In addition, the project requires a development review permit because it exceeds 30,000 square feet.