McDonald's Hoping to Add Second Drive-Thru Lane

Sometimes the call of cheeseburger is just too intense to wait in a wretched drive-thru line.

That could be one of the reasons why the East Aurora Road fast food restaurant is hoping to add a second lane in the near future.

Jim Ptacek, a representative of Larsen Architects, talked with planning commission Monday requesting a conditional use permit for their project, which is designed to alleviate traffic in the parking lot.

“As the business has continued to grow, cars will stack up to State Route 82," Ptacek said.

McDonald’s would like to use a side-by-side approach, installing an extra lane next to the existing one, cutting lines in half.

“If you get behind the minivan with ten kids in it, you could get ten different orders and be behind it for a long time,” Ptacek said.

It won’t change the building itself, but there will be two lanes to place an order, staggering the cars to use the existing windows.

As the plans are currently drawn, it won't require purchasing additional property, but will wipe out parking spaces in the back of the lot.

According to data provided by the applicants, 70 percent of the business is carry-out and 30 percent is dine-in.

Bob McDermott, city council representative to the commission, said while he understands what they're trying to do, he's not comfortable with the idea.

McDermott said he wonders how the additional lane will affect remaining parking spaces and access to the dumpster.

Before planning commission approves a conditional use permit, it will go to a public hearing later this month.