Shelton McDonald's Moves Closer To Reality After Further P&Z Discussion

SHELTON, CT — A proposed McDonald's at 6 Todd Road moved closer to reality after further discussion among Shelton Planning and Zoning commissioners during their April 10 meeting.

Plans for the new fast food restaurant were first submitted to the city in December by Avon-based Six Todd Road LLC, calling for construction of a 3,690-square-foot single restaurant with a two-lane drive thru and 37 parking spaces.

The first public hearing on the McDonald's plans took place in February. The April 10 discussion was part of a public hearing continued from late March, according to the commission.

Commission Chair Virginia Harger said during the meeting developers had submitted several new documents to the city since the March continuation, including a letter regarding electric vehicle charging station requirements, revised site plans for drainage and three pieces of correspondence from the city engineer.

Dominick Thomas, an attorney with the Derby-based Cohen and Thomas law firm, said the developers he is representing took some concerns brought up at the previous meeting into account, including construction of a sidewalk.

"They're going to do the sidewalk along Platt Road," Thomas said.

See also:

• McDonald's Drive-Thru Plans Lead To Traffic Concerns From Shelton P&Z
• Plans Submitted For New McDonalds Restaurant In Shelton

Further construction of sidewalks around the property would need to be coordinated with the city, which the developers would likely be able to accommodate if approved by the state, according to Thomas.

"I think that's a very good development for sure," Harger said.

Following the discussion, most commissioners voiced their support for the project.

"I think they've addressed everything we've asked for," Commissioner Ruth Parkins said.

Commissioner James Tickey noted he remained opposed to the project but recognized the majority of his fellow commission members were in favor of it regardless.

"I'm not in support, but I've gone on the record with that," Tickey said, "and I think you have enough folks willing to support it."

During the commission's Feb. 21 meeting, Tickey noted it was previously "a dealbreaker to have any sort of a drive-thru" at the site for some commissioners during initial discussions of the original plan for the land in 2021.

"We talked about Todd Road, the access road that it is, and we're really concerned about the traffic that it would create," Tickey said. "Let's not kid ourselves, this McDonald's is going to be jamming. There are other places in town where we've heard it's not going to be busy and then it is, very much so, especially with drive-thrus."

He also noted during that meeting the plans were very different compared to what was initially explored for the site in 2021.

"It's a major deviation from what we previously approved," Tickey said, "and we only approved it when we were told there would never be a drive-thru."

The commission agreed to close the public hearing and directed zoning staff to prepare a favorable resolution that will be presented for action at an upcoming meeting. They also reviewed proposed signage for the new restaurant.

According to the Shelton Herald, the vacant land on the corner of Todd and Platt roads is currently owned by Manuel Moutinho. In recent years, the land has become overgrown and home to homeless encampments.

While there are a number of McDonald's restaurants in the nearby communities of Trumbull, Derby, Monroe, Milford, Orange and West Haven, the fast food chain does not currently operate a location in Shelton.

If approved and built, the new restaurant would add to the state's growing roster of McDonald's locations.

According to a special report by 24/7 Wall St., the globally popular fast food brand operated just over 140 McDonald's restaurants in Connecticut as of 2021.

Restaurant Business reports the fast food chain opened six new restaurants in the U.S. in 2022 and finished the year with six more than it had at the end of 2021, something the company had not done since 2014.

The company also indicated plans to build more McDonald's restaurants both in the U.S. and globally in 2023. Though the company peaked at 14,350 locations in the U.S. in 2014, it closed over 900 restaurants between that year and the end of 2021, according to Restaurant Business.

A video of the full Planning and Zoning Commission meeting can be viewed here.