Appeal lodged against planning permission for Letterkenny McDonalds drive-thru

An appeal against the granted planning permission for the construction of a McDonalds drive-thru restaurant in Letterkenny has been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála. 

The proposed restaurant was to be located in the Port Road area of Letterkenny and would initially involve the demolition of a two-storey dwelling and a single-storey commercial unit.

Applicant, PJ McDermott, received planning permission with 19 conditions in August, however, an appellant has now lodged an appeal against the planning to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

No date has been given by An Coimisiún Pleanála for the decision due date on the case. 

The appellant details traffic issues and “architectural quality” as grounds for their appeal against the project, stating that concerns about the close proximity to the Polestar roundabout, lack of a right-hand turning lane, restricted access for large vehicles, and that the project will lead to “conflicting traffic movements.”

In the appeal, the appellant comments: “The proposed development is on the R229, which is one of the heaviest trafficked section of road in the county of Donegal. 

“The proposal is for a McDonalds drive-thru takeaway and seated restaurant. This development will lead to a very heavy traffic both into and out of the proposed site, which is in very close proximity to the Polestar roundabout.”

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Concluding the appeal, the appellant wrote: “Having regard to the design and layout of the proposed development, I believe it fails to display high architectural quality or provide a fine-grain development on this prominent urban site, as required under Policy TC5 of the Letterkenny and Environs Development plan, and combined with excessive surface car parking proposed on the site, I believe the proposed development would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

The plans that were granted planning permission for a single-storey drive-thru restaurant, including the ancillary sale of hot food for consumption off the premises, with an associated corral area, elevational signage, car/bicycle parking, and EV carparking spaces, grill bays, a height restrictor, customer order points, amongst other amenities. 

Landscaping, including a furniture/seating area with parasols, is included in the proposed development. 

Moreover, included in planning is the installation of a traffic barrier on the meridian of the R229 public road, adjacent to the proposed site entrance to and from the development.