The golden arches on Revere Beach Parkway will soon gleam even brighter.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the Planning Board granted a special permit for the demolition and reconstruction of the McDonald’s located at 170 Revere Beach Parkway.
According to project engineer William Lucas, the new fast food establishment will be bigger than its predecessor and include a double drive-through lane. The redesigned property will also feature reduced parking and expanded green space.
“McDonald’s is going through a nationwide rebranding program at all its restaurants,” said Lucas.
While such projects typically involve substantial renovation work, Lucas explained that Chelsea’s demolition and rebuild initiative will serve to enhance both interior and exterior accessibility at the restaurant.
“This will bring the restaurant into compliance and improve operations,” he said. “They are implementing a side-by-side drive-through instead of the single file line.”
The existing drive-through window runs parallel to Washington Avenue, but the new configuration will orient the window toward Revere Beach Parkway. The building’s footprint is expected to grow from 3,500 to 4,400 square feet, while parking capacity will shrink from 65 spaces to 32.
Planning Board Chairman Tuck Willis inquired about the timeline for completing the demolition and reconstruction work.
“Generally, it gets done in less than 60 days,” said Lucas.
Todd Taylor, a board member, voiced concerns regarding potential construction impacts on Washington Avenue.
“The traffic there is such a bad problem,” said Taylor. “That is the main way out of Prattville, and in the mornings, there is a huge backup and people cannot get out of the neighborhood.”
Apart from the McDonald’s approval, the Planning Board’s evening was relatively quiet, with the board issuing special permits to convert several single-family residences into multi-family dwellings.
The substantial 630-unit Forbes Street development was deferred until the board’s Nov. 27 session.
The meeting’s most dramatic moment occurred during a thunderstorm, when a particularly loud and nearby lightning strike startled several board members.