Something I missed from the December 11th Zoning Appeals meeting... McDonald's is (was) proposing to build a restaurant at 809 E Michigan, the site of Jon Anthony Florists. They actually proposed having the back of the building face Michigan Ave with the drive thru running along the sidewalk frontage. I don't see minutes posted but the report in the agenda packet is not kind to the request:
Based on the information and findings described in this report, the staff recommendation is to deny
the variance requests to Sections 1243.06.02 (a), & (b), 1246.04.03(e), and 1254.01.03 (c), and
Table 1243.03 of the Zoning Ordinance to permit the construction of a McDonalds restaurant with
drive-through at 809 E. Michigan Avenue that would be less than the required two stories and 25
feet in height, would not occupy the first 20 feet of the site along E. Michigan Avenue (corner
massing) or be located at the required 5 foot build-to line, does not have a front entrance to the
building facing the main street frontage (E. Michigan Avenue), would have a driveway onto a local
street (N. Hosmer Street) and would exceed the number of permitted parking by 1 space
Good job zoning staff.
I'm all for a McDonald's here if we don't have to take a sledgehammer to the form-based code, particularly when it comes to Michigan Ave frontage. I wonder if they'll come back with a more reasonable design or go looking for another site? I don't know if they'd go two floors here but Sparrow is just about next door, there's a good bar crowd at night, Neogen & MSHDA employees right next door, the ballpark isn't too far... Maybe it's within the realm of possibility.
Comments
Good job zoning staff.
I'm all for a McDonald's here if we don't have to take a sledgehammer to the form-based code, particularly when it comes to Michigan Ave frontage. I wonder if they'll come back with a more reasonable design or go looking for another site? I don't know if they'd go two floors here but Sparrow is just about next door, there's a good bar crowd at night, Neogen & MSHDA employees right next door, the ballpark isn't too far... Maybe it's within the realm of possibility.