A proposed renovation of McDonald’s in New Paltz opens the door to addressing issues with that business by members of the Town of New Paltz Planning Board, including the brightly-colored play area considered out of character for the area, and the lack of wheelchair ramps along the sidewalk.
Corporate engineer Alan Roscoe laid out a plan that will include many accessibility improvements inside the restaurant, upgrades to the kitchen and a reconfiguration of the outside because “drive-throughs are the driver of the business,” even in a community where zero waste and climate-smart certifications are valued.
The outside would be redone in a more neutral palette, but the initial proposal would leave the red-and-yellow play area awning intact. Roscoe heard that it’s “distracting” and board members would like to see it go. It was also suggested that the windows in the front be tinted to further reduce that distraction.
Sidewalks in front of the store also were not slated to be changed, but Roscoe learned that this is perhaps the only point on that side of Route 299 which is impassable to anyone in a wheelchair.
Before this application comes before the Planning Board, an area variance is being sought for the signs, which are already larger than the current code allows, and on the plans would be larger still. A variance might also be needed in the parking lot, as town code now requires double stripes between spaces, and that would make it impossible to meet parking requirements.
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