Golden Arches are Coming to Main St.

Despite a lengthy debate over McDonald's glowing golden arches, Planning & Zoning Commissioners decided last Thursday to instruct land use staff to draft approvals for a zone change and site plan allowing a restaurant and drive-thru to be built at 579 Main Street. The approvals, with conditions, will be voted on at the next work session.

The applicant, Real Time Investments LLC, had previously gotten approvals from all town bodies before legal challenges from neighboring property owners tied up the project in court. Real Time decided to apply a second time, while simultaneously fighting the legal challenge and going with whichever favorable result happens first.

During last Thursday's deliberations P&Z commissioners discussed the merits of the applications with the bulk of it focusing on the lighting.

Commissioner Karen Martin said she wants McDonald's to take down the three "M's" that would go on the new building.

Commission Chairman Pat O'Hara told the commission the applicant wants the three "M's" to be part of the plan. But Martin insisted that there are McDonald's restaurants that have been built without golden arches.

Commissioner Brian Quinn suggested that the arches only be illuminated by "goose neck" lighting — with light directed on the arches — rather than being internally lit.

"I don't want to look at a glowing 'M'," Quinn said.

O'Hara asked the commission, "Are we going to keep the three 'M's?"

Of the five voting members, all agreed with the exception of Martin.

Then O'Hara asked how they would be lit.

Quinn joked, "I don't think you need it lit at all. Every five-year-old will be able to see it in the dark anyway."

Commissioner Jim Weinberg said, "I'm picturing McDonald's restaurants all over the country and all over the world. They have arches. I can't see how a back-lit 'M' or a goose neck lit 'M' would be any more intrusive."

Quinn said, "With the landscape plan, I don't think you'll see the 'M' anyway."

Town planning administrator, Will Agresta, noted that the applicant was more concerned about keeping the "M's" than over the lighting.

Weinberg said, "I say let them keep the lit 'M'."

Quinn countered, "I say keep the goose neck lighting."

Then O'Hara said, "I say keep the plan the same way as submitted."

O'Hara, Quinn, Vice Chairman William Porter and Weinberg voted to keep the lighting plan as is and Martin voted against it.