Amador County – Amador County Board of Supervisors heard predominant opposition to the McDonald’s remodel project, during a citizen appeal hearing Tuesday, and ultimately continued the hearing to Jan. 10, while a local group of citizens negotiates changes.

Most people speaking did not like the remodel design, which the County Planning Commission approved on a 3-2 vote, giving relief from “Condition 19” of the original 1992 conditions of approval, which require earth tone colors, and natural textures.

Jackson Vice Mayor Keith Sweet, one of 12 appellants, read a four-page statement to start testimony and asked Supervisors to require McDonald’s to comply with the county’s Draft Design Guidelines for the proposed remodel of their restaurant in unincorporated Martell. He also asked that they reinstate Condition 19. Sweet said the corporation offered a changed rendering that was “as far as they will go.”

McDonald’s area construction manager Margaret Trujillo said she drew the new design, and the “compromised rendering has cultured stone everywhere the other design would have white paint on the exterior.”

Sweet said McDonald’s is re-branding franchises globally with a $2.5 billion investment, including $1.5 billion for makeovers of 13,000 U.S. locations. Sweet said the new rendering was “too modern” and stucco was not allowed in Condition 19.

Trujillo said there are 1,300 McDonald’s restaurants being remodeled across the country, not 13,000. She asked Supervisors to uphold the Planning Commission decision. She said they would “like to have the courtesy that other businesses across the street have had” in their remodel.

Supervisor Brian Oneto said your business model is yours, but “in this area, people have a long memory.” They find grandma and grandpa won’t go to a particular business, then “you find out that 150 years ago, somebody kicked somebody’s dog.” Mimi Arata and others said they had not been in McDonald’s in Martell since historic Amador County pictures were removed from the walls inside.

Supervisor Vice Chairman Louis Boitano said “tourism is the one major thing we still have,” and in these hard economic times, county design review guidelines are not going to be approved. Boitano said the county lost the Gold Mine Tours, and it is really important that businesses stay in the character of the Mother Lode and Gold Rush.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.