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Residents urge council to uphold prior denials, say McDonald’s won’t deliver lasting development
Summary
Dozens of speakers at the Aug. 5 meeting opposed the McDonald's drive‑through at 116 W. Baseline, citing the city's own environmental scan, public health impacts, and a pattern of repeated reconsiderations that residents said exhaust community participation.
A steady stream of residents and neighborhood advocates urged the San Bernardino council on Aug. 5 to reject the McDonald’s conditional use permit and respect previous planning‑commission and council denials. Speakers emphasized the city’s own reports documenting a high concentration of fast‑food outlets and linked the proposal to poorer health outcomes and inconsistent land‑use policy for transit neighborhoods.
Yvette Romero, who lives directly across the street from the proposed site, told the council, “The facts have not changed since March and the cap applicant has not changed the proposal to address residents concerns.” Many speakers described the area as already saturated with fast‑food outlets; one noted the city’s environmental scan found roughly 85 frequently used fast‑food establishments and more than three times the number of full‑service grocery stores in some neighborhoods.
Several commenters urged the council to prioritize grocery access, parks, workforce development and mixed‑use projects over additional national chain drive‑throughs. Developer Robert Carrillo said he is building mixed‑use housing and commercial space on a smaller parcel nearby and urged the council to support projects that create long‑term, locally anchored investment instead of a quick‑service chain. Proponents who spoke in favor said a well‑managed restaurant could reduce blight and bring employees and sidewalks back to a vacant site, but opponents said that would not substitute for comprehensive neighborhood investment.
While the council ultimately voted to approve the project, the public comment period showed sustained and organized opposition that members said they heard during deliberations.
