Planning commission clears McDonald’s drive-through to operate 24 hours; dine-in hours remain 5 a.m.–11 p.m.

The Menomonee Falls Planning Commission on May 6 unanimously recommended that the drive-through at the McDonald's at N83W15515 Appleton Avenue be allowed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the restaurant's interior dining hours remain 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Planner Amy Bennett told commissioners staff recommended approval of the applicant's request to permit a 24-hour drive-through; the site is zoned C-1 with an OC-5 commercial service overlay. Applicant Sean Kennedy, who said he purchased the restaurant in February 2019, told the commission the restaurant was not operating 24 hours when he bought it and that the prevalence of food-delivery services has increased late-night business. "I'd probably say 50% of those orders at night will be DoorDash or Uber delivery drivers," Kennedy said.

Commissioners discussed whether the approval should be limited explicitly to the drive-through, so that any later request to open interior dining 24 hours would return to the commission for review. Commissioner remarks and staff clarified the amended motion: the approval covers drive-through operation at all hours, with inside dining hours unchanged at 5 a.m.–11 p.m. Several commissioners cited staffing and potential security concerns as factors in limiting the approval to the drive-through.

The commission voted to recommend approval of the amended motion unanimously. Bennett noted the code currently lists 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. as the hours for this kind of use; the commission's action permits the drive-through to operate outside those hours while preserving the existing interior hours.

The record shows the commission accepted the staff report and conditions associated with the application; commissioners did not require additional site controls beyond those discussed during the hearing.