Just ahead of a scheduled Evanston Zoning Board of Appeals hearing, McDonald’s has withdrawn its plan to build a restaurant and drive-thru at 2500 Gross Point Road.
Aldeman Mark Tendam, whose 6th Ward includes the site, says an attorney for the restaurant chain, Bridget O’Keefe, asked city officials Friday to remove the proposal from Tuesday’s ZBA agenda and withdraw the application from any furher consideration.
Neighbors had objected that the drive-thru would be too close to homes on Princeton Avenue, which abut the Gross Point Road property and the restaurant would create unmanageable traffic congestion at the intersection.
A city staff advisory panel had also recommended against approving the project, citing similar concerns to those of the neighbors.
Tendam, in an email to constituents thanked the neighbors who circulated petitions agains the project and and ciy staff “who articulated so well the numerous concerns” about the project.
The propoerty now houses an acquarium maintenance services and several other small businesses.
Top: A rendering of the proposed restaurant.
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Another business falls to NIMBY
Evanston seems willing to kill/block any business for any reason they can think of.
If the don't like the color of the owners shirt—kill his business.
If they don't like the flowers in the window—kill the business.
Don't like McDonalds downtown, push them out—well we know what happened to the places that replaced it.
A few years ago Ryan Field neighbors killed the Virginia Slims tennis tournament because of the sponsor. While I don't care for the sponsor or their roduct, Evanston needs the revenue.
The way things are going someday we will have to bight the bullet and approve some really distakeful businesses just to pay our bills.
Pay our bills?
Please!
In the state of Illinois, and especially in the Peoples Republic of Evanston, we kick the can down the road. A time honored liberal PC progressive social justice approach to paying our bills. The solution? Class warfare.