Council flags traffic and paving issues at new McDonald's site; 'Carlisle First' contracting debate raised

Council members on Dec. 9 raised concerns about the final development plan for a new McDonald’s on Union Street and broader local contracting practices.

Councilmember Jason Faulkner said the McDonald’s entrance sits close to the Union Street intersection and warned the exit could create ongoing traffic problems; he also said staff discovered a gravel delivery road on the west side of the building that had been used for deliveries and marked for snowplows, and questioned how such a non‑paved surface was approved. Faulkner urged staff to work with the adjacent strip‑mall property owner to identify additional improvements beyond those McDonald’s is already taking to mitigate traffic impacts.

Councilmember Tim Humphries pressed the council to adopt a 'Carlisle First' approach to prioritize local businesses and contractors. Humphries said that when the City used a contractor to install generators at city facilities, local licensed and bonded electricians were not contacted; he said he had brought materials to propose solutions and urged staff to check local resources before hiring outside vendors.

Councilmember Debbie Kemper said the Planning Commission had approved the McDonald’s development plan and provided construction details: she said newer ice‑cream machines would be installed, construction is expected to take about 90 days, and the owner hopes to open in March.

Councilmembers asked staff to ensure consistent development standards and to follow up on Faulkner’s concerns about the unpaved delivery route.

Next steps: staff to engage with affected property owners and report back to council as needed.