Second McDonald's Drive-Through OK'd By Planning Commission

One of Golden Valley's McDonald's will be able to take twice the orders in the drive-through, if City Council members give a new plan their approval.

The owners of McDonald's at 9315 Medicine Lake Road would like to add a second drive-through lane as part of a larger remodeling project.

Adding a second drive-through, however, will decrease the number of parking spaces at the business—from 85 to 78. City code requires 85 spaces for the property.

So it can move forward with the remodeling project, the company requested an amendment to the conditional use permit for the drive-through. It also requested a variance to decrease the number of parking spaces.

On Monday, the Planning Commission approved the changes and recommended the City Council approve them. Tuesday, the Board of Zoning Appeals also endorsed the plan.

City Council members now will consider the requests at their Aug. 16 meeting.

The restaurant's owner told city officials that drive-through sales account for about 64 percent of total sales, which is a 19 percent increase from when it was built in the late 1990s.

Across the U.S., McDonald's is rebranding its restaurants, according to information from the city. The local McDonald's will be redesigned to look more modern and the interior will be updated.

When the drive-through lane is added, McDonald's plans to "improve the existing parking lot to meet current fire code requirements," according to the city.

If the council approves the new plans Aug. 16, City Planner Joe Hogeboom said he expects the owners will be in the city offices Aug. 17 to get building permits so construction can begin immediately.