Additional McDonald's Drive-Thru Gets to 'Second Window'

The Twinsburg is one step closer to getting your fries faster.

Planning commission unanimously reccommended a conditional use permit to city council that would allow the fast-food restaurant add a second drive-thru lane. Final approval still needs to be given by council in the next few weeks.

“The intention is for the safety for the community to improve speed for the customer and improve the traffic issue backing out to S.R. 82.” Jim Ptacek, the architect for McDonald's, said.

McDonald’s would like to use a side-by-side approach, installing an extra lane next to the existing one, cutting lines in half.

It won’t change the building itself, but there will be two lanes to place an order, staggering the cars to use the existing windows.

As the plans are currently drawn, it won't require purchasing additional property, but will wipe out parking spaces in the back of the lot.

Marc Cohen, planning commission president, said he worried about parking and how the stacking of cars would work, but after watching the car flow at another McDonald's, he felt better about the process.

City Planner Lynn Muter said she has spent time watching the parking situation at the business, noting the lot was never full and the only issue would be larger trucks taking up spaces. Even in that situation, there were still plenty of spaces, she said.

To alleviate any noise concerns, Ptacek said the drive-thru speakers will be lower and at a specific angle to block sound for nearby residents.

Ed Kancelor, who owns adjacent property on Maple Drive, said he agrees with what they want to do because when traffic lines up, “it’s not a safe situation.”

However, Kancelor has been having problems with trash blowing over from the restaurant's dumpster onto his property and dumpster pickup is at 4:30 a.m.

Kancelor is currently a member on the city's Board of Zoning Appeals.

All members of planning commission recognized Kancelor's concern and told McDonald's representatives they hoped an understanding could be reached in the situation between the two.

“I think we need to focus on what is in front of us,” Nick Marrali, Ward 1 representative said.

Cohen told the business he would like to see policing of trash from the property, replacement of a wooden plank to block trash and a confirmation of dumpster pickup times.