A dual-lane, drive-thru McDonald’s is one vote away from joining Newberry’s Highland Park development across from the new Publix and could open as early as this fall.
On Monday, the city’s Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the fast-food restaurant site and development plan, which includes a 3,859-square-foot building on 1.26 acres. The plan still has to come before the City Commission for approval.
The McDonald’s will sandwich between a Wawa gas station and Wendy’s. Chipotle, Heartland Dental and Your Storage Units Self Storage are also planned for Highland Park and headed before the commission after approval from the Planning and Zoning Board on May 4. Advance Auto Parts construction is almost finished.
A representative from Seyer Group on behalf of McDonald’s said Highland Park has been laid out so that customers can easily circulate through the different businesses with rear driveways behind the properties and cross access.
They said it takes about 100 days to build a McDonald’s but that they’re hoping this one might make the 85-day mark as the fastest one in the state, according to an agent from McDonald’s.
“I have a hammer, so whatever we need to do to make that 85 days,” said City Manager Jordan Marlowe. “Because, Frosty machine or a milkshake machine in there, I’m ready.”
Multiple board members and city staff celebrated the Golden Arches planned for Highland Park. The McDonald’s is technically Newberry’s first, although one opened in neighboring Jonesville at 14124 W Newberry Rd. in 2012.
“I would like to request that the McFlurry machine always works. That’s it,” said Member Mellina Parker.
Editor’s note: This story was underwritten by a grant from the Rural Reporting Initiative at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.
More “fast food” crap: NOT what is needed.
Wawa, chipotle’s, a self storage and McDonald’s boring.
Quite a contrast to the real Highland Park, the one in Dallas.