The item was tabled Sept. 2 after council members inquired about adding a curb along Virginia Parkway that would prevent drivers exiting the property from making a left turn onto the road. The action comes shortly after McKinney’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the permit in August.
At a glance
The restaurant would be located at 3300 Virginia Parkway next to a Walmart Neighborhood Market. The property is currently zoned as a planned development district that requires a specific use permit to operate a drive-thru restaurant.
Council members had previously considered and denied a similar request for the restaurant at the same location in December. Since then, the entrance locations to the restaurant were shifted from the south side of the site to the west side, according to a site plan.
What they’re saying
Council members voted to table the item so the city’s traffic engineers have time to examine the possibility of adding a raised curb in the center of Virginia Parkway. The curb could prevent drivers exiting the property from turning left onto Virginia Parkway while allowing eastbound drivers to turn left into the property.
Council member Geré Feltus said exiting out of the property to go left onto Virginia Parkway is “far more of a concern” than addressing traffic buildup on the road heading west. Feltus said she’s seen a lot of “near misses” in that area.
“That turn out of that property going eastbound is far more of an issue than the deceleration to get into that property,” she said.
Council member Rick Franklin said he travels through the intersection and understands what Feltus is talking about. He said he wishes there could be a traffic light where Bonnie Wenk Park is.
“If you had one there, then that would make me feel better about it,” he said. “But otherwise I still think there’s a concern there.”
Council member Patrick Cloutier said the issue still exists if people are going to Walmart or Bonnie Wenk Park.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” he said. “We’re not compelling anyone to go, but I think it’s a good use.”
Another viewpoint
Lee Morris, who works for McDonald's, asked if it was possible to add a raised curb that enables eastbound drivers on Virginia Parkway to turn left into the property but prevents exiting drivers from making a left turn on the same road.
Cloutier said the city has a similar curb at the Tom Thumb location near Eldorado Parkway and Hardin Boulevard.
“You can make a left off Eldorado to get into the Tom Thumb parking lot but once you’re going back out you’ve got to make a right on Eldorado,” Cloutier said.
Feltus said that was something she would like to dig into with city staff. Council members voted to table the item until council’s next regular meeting, which is scheduled Sept. 16.
