McDonald’s on Broadway will be demolished and rebuilt 100 feet farther back from the street, extending the sidewalk to make space for a public-private plaza on the corner of 25th Street and a drive-through entrance on Broadway that will also exit on 25th Street. The project is part of a redevelopment plan approved by the city council at a meeting on Wednesday, June 21.
Four parking spaces will be eliminated on Broadway to make room for the plaza, but will be added to the new parking behind the McDonald’s and facing 25th Street. Residents expressed safety concerns regarding the drive-through, which will be accessible only by making a right-hand turn from Broadway.
Some residents noted that the city’s Master Plan advises against drive-throughs on Broadway, but the company’s attorney, Michael Micelli, said the drive-through is designed to be as safe as possible. The new McDonald’s will offer free wi-fi, as well as public space.
“It’s the heaviest walking area in our town,” said Third Ward Councilman Gary La Pelusa. “You cannot put a driveway on Broadway. It’s a major safety issue.” La Pelusa was the only councilperson to vote against the redevelopment plan. “I, for one, am not going to sacrifice safety to make exceptions for corporate America,” he said.
He noted the McDonald’s popularity among high-school students who walk en masse to Broadway after football games and other school events as reason to be cautious about pedestrian safety on the street.
“I just don’t think it’s a good idea [to install a drive-through],” said local resident and boxing legend, Chuck Wepner. “And I felt it was my duty as a citizen to come down here tonight and voice my opinion on the matter.”
Wepner expressed his affinity for McDonald’s, which opened in 1974. “It’s one of the few places I can go where people are actually older than me,” he said. “People call me sonny. I like it there.”
“My thought is the safety, especially on Broadway,” said Melanie Flora. “Mothers who have carriages with babies and young children. If someone is exiting or entering [from Broadway], that’s a major concern.”
The redevelopment plan has already been approved by the Planning Board. Now the final site plan will now go back before the Planning Board for approval.
Other council news
The council approved several other significant redevelopment plans. It also transferred $5.2 million levied from property taxes to the Bayonne Board of Education; merged city and school district prescription drug plans, saving the district nearly $900,000 and the city $500,000; and granted PILOTS to two major developers: the South Cove hotel, and Best Foods.
A measure to merge the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) into the municipal government was tabled until August 24 due to pending approval from the state’s Local Finance Board. After privatizing its waterworks system, the MUA now acts mostly in an oversight capacity. The authority currently employs only three people, whose positions will be integrated into the city government, according to MUA Director Tim Boyle.
Rory Pasquariello may be reached at roryp@hudsonreporter.com.
