On December 17, Niverville’s town council approved an application for the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant. The proposed location is 1789 Main Street, located just west of the railway tracks. The site is the current home of ShopGym Inc.
Two representatives from ARCADIS Professional Services were in attendance on behalf of the McDonald’s Corporation. Their request was to erect a 46-seat sitdown restaurant with a two-lane 24-hour drive-thru.
“This location is zoned commercial corridor and is intended to serve commercial facilities located outside of the downtown area that require a larger site for high traffic… and uses requiring direct access to a major arterial street or highway,” CAO Eric King told council.
Entrance to the restaurant parking area and drive-thru would be accessed from Arena Road, the one-way street which leads to the CRRC and the high school. If approved by the province, the drive-thru would exit directly onto Highway 311.
Three homeowners living directly west of the proposed site were present to share their concerns. All stated openly that they did not disapprove of a McDonald’s restaurant in their neighbourhood but rather hoped that council and the franchise developers would outline a plan to help mitigate the affects on their properties.
A primary need, they agreed, was for an adequate buffer along the property line which separates the drive-thru from their backyards. They cited noise, air pollution due to idling vehicles, light pollution from headlights and signs, and an increase in traffic.
“Research published in peer-reviewed journals has shown that fast food establishments near residential areas can lead to decreases in property values, depending on factors like traffic volume and operating hours,” one resident told council. “[But] a 24/7 McDonald’s, particularly with a drive-thru lane directly facing our backyard, isn’t just about property values. It’s about our quality of life.”
Instead of the six-foot wooden separation fence currently proposed by the developer, she said, the neighbours believe a concrete fence of more significant height would effectively address some of their concerns.
As well, a row of coniferous trees along the fence would aid in further reducing the light and air pollution issues.
A different resident asked for council’s ear in addressing another matter—specifically, the possibility of teenage clientele posing a nuisance for nearby homeowners. As a previous employee of an urban McDonald’s, she said that she’s had real life experience.
“At noon or after school, the local high schools would flood [our restaurant],” she told council. “The parking lot was constantly busy, the restaurant was loud and obnoxious, and in the seating area outside there was often a lot of loitering and rudeness.”
Other concerns included the affects of significantly increased traffic volumes, the potential early morning noise produced by delivery vehicles, and garbage disposal methods that pose the risk of litter, unwanted odors, and pests.
The gentlemen representing McDonald’s were provided an opportunity to address these concerns. Mostly, they proposed a willingness to accommodate any requests council might make regarding buffer materials and heights.
As for illuminated signage, they assured council there would be none on the west side of the building facing residential properties. As well, the light standards would have shields, reducing light pollution to zero at the property line.
Noise pollution, too, can now be mitigated through the use of modern speaker systems on the menu order boards.
“The modern McDonald’s speaker posts automatically adjust with background noise,” he added. “So at nighttime, for example, when there’s less traffic on the road, they automatically turn down and it’s much quieter than in the daytime.”
Product deliveries, they said, would take place during the midmorning or afternoon hours and trash would be dealt with through the use of in-ground earth bins.
Since no outdoor seating is planned for this site, loitering should be of minimal concern.
Finally, the modern drive-thru with two traffic lanes and three pickup windows keeps traffic flowing in such a way that idling is minimized.
Councillor Meghan Beasant voiced her own concerns about the project as planned. To open a 24-hour service in a small community like Niverville, she said, is possibly too much. The proposed location next to Ritchot Drive residents, she added, is concerning.
Mayor Myron Dyck closed the dialogue, reassuring residents that dropping property values may not pose the risk they perceive it will.
“You live on a very desirable street,” Dyck said. “Your home’s price point in a community like this is very desirable. People that want to live in this community maybe don’t have the money for the five, six, and seven hundred-thousand-dollar houses [in newer developments].”
This is especially true for Ritchot Drive homes, he added, when considering their proximity to the high school, the CRRC, and the business sector where jobs and amenities are more abundant.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the application.
