Residents of the Canyon Meadows community in southwest Calgary are mobilizing against plans to construct a new McDonald's restaurant with a 24-hour drive-thru at a bustling local intersection.
Petition Gains Momentum Against Fast-Food Giant
A Change.org petition opposing the development had collected more than 550 electronic signatures by Wednesday afternoon. The petition is formally requesting that the city's planning department reject the development permit application for the restaurant, which is proposed for the corner of Elbow Drive and Canterbury Drive S.W.
The Canyon Meadows Community Association confirmed in a recent newsletter that the application is indeed for a McDonald's location. Community members cite a range of issues with the proposal, primarily focusing on the expected exacerbation of existing traffic problems and new environmental worries.
Core Concerns: Traffic, Safety, and Litter
The petition highlights significant apprehension about increased traffic congestion and idling vehicles leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed site's proximity to key community fixtures is a major point of contention for residents.
The location at the southeast corner of the community's main shopping plaza is situated down the street from Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School and directly across from two daycare centers. One petition signee, who lives opposite the proposed site, commented, "I live right across from this proposed McDonald's location and the intersection is already congested and chaotic."
Another resident echoed these safety concerns, stating, "It's a nightmare trying to turn in the mornings and when school is out. I know the idea is to capture the high school kids at lunch time. Do we really need to be offering McDonald's to these kids everyday?" Other comments criticized the city for considering a large multinational chain over a smaller, locally-owned business for the location.
Official Response and Next Steps
On the city's development map, the application is currently listed as "under review." The applicant is listed as Arcadis Professional Services. As of the report, neither Arcadis nor McDonald's Canadian corporate office had immediately responded to a request for comment.
The nearest existing McDonald's to Canyon Meadows is located in Glenmore Landing, approximately four kilometres away, with the second closest being in Deer Run, about six kilometres away.
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean, who represents Canyon Meadows on city council, confirmed that the proposed drive-thru is a frequent concern raised by residents. He noted it was a common topic during his recent door-knocking campaign for the municipal election and during town hall meetings in the community.
