Commission approves four variances for planned McDonald’s at 6000 State Route 30 with right‑in/right‑out condition

The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission approved four variances (VR25042, VR25043, VR25044 and VR25045) for a proposed McDonald’s at 6000 State Route 30, voting unanimously to accept staff recommendations as a packet. Commissioner Minster moved for approval and Commissioner Ishmael seconded.

Planning staff summarized the requests as deviations from Unified Development Order (UDO) standards for minimum sight distance, driveway width, driveway throat length, and corner radius. Staff reported a traffic study and a MoDOT review that raised queuing concerns; because MoDOT indicated the northern access is not in its right‑of‑way, staff recommended that the northern point of access be conditioned to right‑in, right‑out to reduce on‑site queuing and visual obstruction for the southern exit.

Staff also recommended approval with conditions limiting the northern driveway width to no more than 66.79 feet, requiring the northern throat length not be reduced below 45.26 feet and the southern throat length not be reduced below 44.88 feet, and permitting a reduced corner radius of 15 feet at the southern access point.

Patrick Bennett, the engineer of record for the petitioner, told commissioners he was concerned that a right‑in/right‑out condition could limit truck and supply deliveries, saying one of his primary concerns was "access to the site for our delivery vehicles" and that the client preferred full access to accommodate drive‑through circulation. Staff and commissioners discussed mitigating deliveries by scheduling non‑peak or overnight deliveries.

Commissioners debated whether to vote on each deviation individually or as a packet; they chose to vote on the four reliefs together and approved them with staff recommendations. The actions taken by the commission will be forwarded as required under county procedures.