Braintree Officials Deny McDonald's Extended Hours

Citing concerns about people driving through a mixed business and residential area late at night and a wider fear about Braintree inching toward being a "24-hour town," Braintree officials voted unanimously against granting McDonald's extended operating hours this week.

The Board of License Commissioners denied McDonald's request to be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the lobby and 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. in the drive-through Tuesday afternoon. It currently operates from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to midnight.

The denial came eight years after the Board of Selectmen turned down Director of Operations Timothy Moulton's request for a 24-hour drive through at the Pearl Street restaurant and nearly a year after the license board disapproved of a similar request by Burger King.

On Tuesday, Moulton urged board members to consider the changing landscape of fast food. Places like Dunkin' Donuts are opening earlier and later to serve customers with more flexible work schedules, he said, and McDonald's wants to position itself to serve that need as well.

He said that he understood the concerns, but that the extended hours would not affect delivery times or those who live in the neighborhood.

"We want to be part of the community," Moulton said. "We always have been."

Town Councilors Leland Dingee and Henry Joyce voiced their opposition to the proposal, saying that the location is not right for a near 24-hour operation.

"There is a fear that Braintree is going to be a 24-hour town," Dingee said.

Added Joyce, "I just don't see what good this does for the Town of Braintree."