Mount Prospect McDonald's moving into old Baker's Square
McDonald's will move out of its restaurant on Rand Road in Mount Prospect and into a new location that is so close you could probably stretch a golden arch from one to the other.
On Tuesday, the village board approved McDonald's plans to take over the empty Baker's Square across the street at 13 W. Rand Road and install dual drive-through lanes.
The present McDonald's is the oldest McDonald's-owned building in the region, according to McDonald's attorney James Olguin.
Owners of the neighboring Xpresso coffee stand, immediately in front of the Baker's Square, objected that their business would be harmed by McDonald's coming in.
Joe Iacovo, who identified himself as the husband of the owner, Francine Piehl, argued that a conditional use, which the board approved for McDonald's, requires it not be “injurious to the use, enjoyment or value of other properties in the vicinity.
“I wonder if any of you could tell me what injury would this little coffee shop have with McDonald's right there,” Iacovo said.
Mayor Arlene Juracek, however, said the coffee shop already gets competition from the existing McDonald's. Trustee Paul Hoefert added that in addition to McDonald's, there is Chick-fil-A and Wendy's nearby.
“I would find it very hard to deny this use, when there are common uses like this all up and down Rand Road,” he said.
Iacovo's further concern about traffic congestion, however, was shared by several trustees.
“Traffic going northwest getting into this property has always been a hassle,” said Trustee Richard Rogers, who noted that traffic halted at the Elmhurst Road stoplight tends to back up beyond the intersection.
As well, trucks headed southeast on Rand Road might have difficulty turning into the site, and would have to cut in front of the turn lane to negotiate the arc.
Iacovo called for a traffic study by IDOT, but Olguin said a traffic study was done by Gewalt Hamilton Associates, a firm used by the village in the past.
Village staff reviewed the study, said Deputy Community Development Director Brian Simmons. Simmons mentioned the possible impact on vehicles getting to the site, because of the influence of the Elmhurst and Rand intersection, but he said there were no concerns about entering or leaving the site itself.
He also said the new drive-through promises to be more efficient than the existing one.
Olguin said truck traffic also was examined, and would be able to enter and exit the restaurant site.
“We wouldn't be going to a site where we wouldn't be able to get our supplies,” he added.