Dozens of Lake Jackson residents urged the City of Lake Jackson Planning Commission to protect nearby single‑family neighborhoods after McDonald’s representatives withdrew interest in a commercial site near Yaupon and FM 2004. The hearing drew sustained public comment about traffic, safety, noise, odors and the adequacy of public notice and zoning rules.

Chair opened the public‑comment period noting staff had received letters and that the commission’s role was to weigh resident concerns and zoning requirements. Staff later told the commission the property owner reported McDonald’s had “backed out” after receiving the packet of materials and public input; staff said the company was represented at the preliminary meeting only by an engineering firm.

Residents stressed safety. “I truly believe it can’t be mitigated in a McDonald’s type facility at that location because of the size and what was proposed and the traffic,” said Jerry Yenny, a resident who read the B‑1 neighborhood‑business ordinance aloud and pointed to the ordinance’s prohibition of uses that create congested vehicular traffic, noise, odors and other objectionable emissions. He cited nearby schools, two parks and bike lanes as elements that increased risk for pedestrians and cyclists.

Other residents cited traffic engineering concerns. One resident referenced TxDOT access‑management guidance and a 425‑foot spacing standard from an intersection, saying the site lacks that distance and that double drive‑thru lanes would create queuing and safety problems in a 50 mph corridor. Several speakers also described quality‑of‑life impacts: overnight drive‑through operations, illuminated speaker boxes, vehicle radios, persistent cooking odors, overflowing dumpsters and rodent attraction.

Multiple residents said McDonald’s was not the only potential tenant; speakers encouraged the city to consider whether rezoning or updated ordinance language could prevent future drive‑through or 24‑hour operations next to single‑family homes. City staff and commission members explained that rezoning is a separate process that can be initiated by a property owner or discussed in future meetings, and they pointed residents to the city website’s agenda‑signup for earlier notice of proposed developments.

Residents also described grassroots notification after they observed on‑site activity; one resident said she learned the property was being measured when she approached crews on the site and was later able to alert neighbors, who organized petitions and rapid outreach that, residents said, helped prompt McDonald’s to reconsider the site.

Staff and commissioners acknowledged limits the city must follow under state open‑meetings and notice rules and emphasized that staff had encouraged McDonald’s to make an initial presentation to get planning‑commission feedback. Those present agreed the episode highlighted gaps between how the zoning code describes B‑1 uses and current commercial development patterns; several long‑term residents offered to work with staff on revising the B‑1 language and notification processes.

No formal city action was taken on rezoning or ordinance changes at the meeting. Staff said any future rezoning or ordinance‑change process would include public hearings and follow state notice requirements.