Plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant in northeast Cedar Rapids are moving forward.
At its meeting this week, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone properties at 1712 32nd St. NE and 3201 and 3215 Carlisle St. NE to a traditional mixed use center district.
The developer of the property, Mirami LLC, is seeking to combine the parcels to be rezoned with adjacent land to the west “to allow for construction of a 4500-square-foot quick service restaurant with a drive-through window,” according to council documents.
The restaurant hasn’t yet been officially identified, but a rezoning exhibit included in the council’s June 10 meeting packet, submitted by Bishop Engineering, is labeled “McDonald’s USA LLC.”
An existing access to the site, near the corner of 32nd Street and Center Point Road NE, would be closed under the plan. Patrons would access the site off of Carlisle Street NE.
A public hearing on the plan was held at the June 10 council meeting, but the council deferred action on the ordinance, requesting additional information on parking and stormwater issues.
Council documents show the applicant responded to concerns in the following manner:
- A privacy fence and trees will be required along all common lot lines with adjacent homes.
- The applicant will look at reducing parking near homes within the area to be rezoned; parking spaces may be added later if required due to demand. Parking spaces in excess of 32 spaces will be required to be constructed with pervious paving, per city code.
- Approximately seven parking spaces are within a shared access easement with an adjacent commercial building.
- Stormwater management will be incorporated in the site plan by a detention basin located on the corner of 32nd Street and Center Point Road. This basin will outlet to the city’s storm sewer 32nd Street SE. Under the conceptual site plan, areas outside of the scope of the rezoning will have a decrease in hardsurfacing due to required landscaping.
Joel Jackson of Bishop Engineering, who said he was representing McDonald’s at the meeting, said that current plans call for 42 parking spaces for McDonald’s customers. He also addressed concerns about storm water runoff to the nearby McLoud Run trout stream, and said a traffic study has been conducted for the area but not yet submitted to the city.
The rezoning request was unanimously recommended for approval by the City Planning Commission at their meeting May 1. Two additional readings are required for approval.
McDonald’s representatives haven’t yet responded to a request for comment or additional information about the project.
Another new McDonald’s is under construction at 5725 Dry Creek Lane NE, just north of Blairs Ferry Road NE. That restaurant will replace an existing McDonald’s that was demolished.
The newest McDonald’s in Cedar Rapids opened in September 2022 at 4520 First Ave. NE, just south of Lindale Mall.
