Commission approves McDonald's site plan after hours of public comment on traffic, noise and aesthetics

The High Springs City Commission on March 27 approved a site plan for a McDonald—s restaurant and drive-through on U.S. 441 after a lengthy public comment period focused on traffic safety, noise, lighting and neighborhood character.

Craig McDonald of Corporate Property Services, representing McDonald—s USA LLC, presented the plan and said the building would be approximately 3,850—3,859 square feet with 38 indoor seats and a side-by-side drive-through. He told the commission the site is zoned C-3 commercial, meets the City of High Springs Land Development Code, and "complies with or exceeds all Land Development Code regulation standards and requirements within the City of High Springs City's Land Development Code." McDonald said the project will meet the city—s adopted levels of service for utilities and transportation and that McDonald expects to employ "about 60 plus plus or minus people at this location."

The applicant described several site and roadway improvements: a cross-access connection to the adjacent Tractor Supply parcel, a left-turn lane and a concrete separator ("pork chop") to make the restaurant a right-in/right-out access, a new bike lane and a sidewalk connecting the site to the right-of-way, and landscape buffers and retention areas behind the site. McDonald said those frontage and turn-lane improvements would cost McDonald about $350,000. He also said the applicant is coordinating with the Florida Department of Transportation for the access work and with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on a gopher tortoise relocation permit and had paid $6,000 toward relocating a tortoise to a site in Jacksonville.

Residents disputed some of the applicant—s representations and asked the commission to consider additional protections. Speakers raised safety concerns for the U.S. 441 corridor near Winn-Dixie and Ashton Ridge, citing existing accidents and near-misses; several residents said they regularly must perform u-turns to access northbound traffic and feared adding McDonald—s traffic would worsen conditions. A number of residents asked for a solid fence or wall similar to what Tractor Supply provided to reduce sound and light intrusion; others urged a sign design that fits the town—s character. One resident asked whether the restaurant would operate 24 hours; the applicant replied most locations do not open 24/7 unless market demand justifies it.

Commission discussion included praise for site-plan elements that aim to improve safety, such as the cross-access and turn-lane work. One commissioner said staff and the applicant "dotted every I, crossed every t." The applicant said the photometric plan shows lighting will be directed away from residences and that light levels behind the retention area would be at or near 0 foot-candles. The applicant said deliveries are typically short and occur on carts at the rear of the building and that the owner/operator would police the site for loitering.

After presentations and public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the site plan and another commissioner seconded; the commission approved the plan by voice vote.

The record includes the plan-board recommendation to approve and staff—s finding the plan met code. The applicant said permits from FDOT and FWC are pending and expected in April; staff will monitor those external approvals. The applicant estimated construction could start in June or July and take approximately 95 to 105 days once permits are secured.