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Council approves McDonald's permit after hours of testimony; one councilmember objects
Summary
After extended staff presentations and more than two hours of public comment both for and against, the City Council voted to approve a conditional-use permit for a McDonald's at Baseline and North Sierra Way; Councilmember Ibarra cast the lone no vote.
The City of San Bernardino City Council approved a conditional-use permit for a McDonald's on the long-vacant corner at Baseline and North Sierra Way following extended staff presentations, an applicant rebuttal and lengthy public comment.
Staff opened the hearing by describing a 0.74-acre site that has been vacant for years and showed photos of vandalism and debris; staff recounted that the planning commission previously denied the project and initially presented a resolution recommending that the council uphold that denial. Staff summarized the case history and the commission’s prior votes before the hearing moved to testimony.
Applicant representative Sean Núñez and his project team urged the council to approve the proposal, saying the project would “activate” a corner long blighted by vandalism and homelessness and would include landscaping, parking and new investment. “McDonald's puede y activará esta pieza de propiedad que servirá por muchos años,” the applicant said during the presentation.
Residents and local organizers who spoke during public comment expressed sharply divided views. Opponents argued the city already has an overconcentration of fast-food outlets and raised health and traffic concerns; one resident said, “Un drive through en San Bernardino aceleraría problemas con la salud.” Other speakers questioned the timing and transparency of notices, saying the community expected the item to be heard at a later date.
Supporters argued the vacant property attracts crime and blight and said a new business would bring jobs, maintenance and foot traffic that could spur further investment. Several commenters recommended alternative tenants (for example, a grocery such as Sprouts) but also said national retailers can draw complementary businesses.
After council discussion, the motion to approve the permit carried with a single recorded no vote from Councilmember Ibarra. The council adopted the listed resolutions and permits enabling the McDonald's to proceed, and the clerk recorded the outcome.
The decision follows multiple hearings and appeals over the same site, with the planning commission and staff earlier having recommended denial; the council’s vote represents the final local approval subject to any additional conditions recorded in the adopted resolutions.
