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McDonald’s seeks double drive‑through and reduced parking; traffic consultant says reconfiguration will ease East Main backups
Summary
McDonald’s representatives told the Stamford Planning Board they plan to reconfigure the East Main Street site to a side‑by‑side (double) drive‑through, reduce on‑site parking from 61 to 37 spaces and add digital menu boards; a traffic consultant said the change should increase queue capacity and reduce backups onto East Main Street, and the board voted to forward variances to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Counsel for the applicant, Chris Russo of Russo & Rizzio LLC, and traffic consultant Ethan Chikovsky presented a plan to reconfigure the McDonald’s at 1103 East Main Street to a double (side‑by‑side) drive‑through, reduce on‑site parking, and install digital menu boards and a springboard canopy. Russo said drive‑through sales currently represent roughly 70% of service and the proposed layout addresses a recurring queue that has backed into East Main Street.
The applicant said the new configuration would increase physical queue capacity by about 47% and allow two simultaneous order points that then merge to a single pickup window; Ethan Chikovsky described field observations and comparative site studies supporting that conclusion. The team proposed pedestrian improvements including a direct walkway from a nearby bus stop and a five‑foot buffer along parking aisles to improve ADA access.
Board members and TTP questioned whether a more efficient drive‑through might increase traffic intensity on West/East Main Street. Chikovsky said observed “unmet demand” suggests the change will meet existing pass‑by trips rather than generate new trips on the roadway, and noted proposed signage, tubular delineators and island adjustments to enforce right‑in/right‑out movements and prevent left turns from East Main Street. The applicants agreed to add signage and consider a slightly raised crosswalk subject to drainage constraints.
After discussion the board moved and unanimously approved forwarding the McDonald’s application and its requested variances to the Zoning Board of Appeals for final action.
