Amador County – The public largely urged Supervisors to stand fast last week in judging an appeal on a McDonald’s restaurant variance, before it was continued for 60 days.

Opposition included some people Supervisor Brian Oneto said had long memories for being slighted. Many people said they or friends had stopped visiting McDonald’s in Martell since the franchise’s walls were cleared of historic photos of county locations.

Thornton Consolo said he would not go to Jack-in-the-Box, because it was approved despite having a sign taller than planning code allowed. Jill North said she has not been in a Home Depot since they said they were going to put in a store near the Kennedy Mine.

North also asked about the McDonald’s construction manager’s request to get the same courtesy as neighbors across the street, for her remodel. North said “if she is talking about the God-awful Jack-in-the-Box sign, some night that thing is going to be missing.”

Susan Bragstadd said she went to the 1992 meeting when the original McDonald’s “conditions of approval” were approved. Bragstadd said: “we were thrown a bone with some fake stone that went around the bottom of the building.” Supervisor Vice Chairman Louis Boitano said “real brick is brick made of clay, and not concrete.” The McDonald’s compromise design, according to construction manager Margaret Trujillo, was going to be cultured rock in place of the white paint around the entire building.

Trujillo said the Martell store has 90 percent local staff and a pedestrian access remodel. She said driving around she saw empty businesses going bankrupt and she would like the same courtesy as neighbors in her remodel.

Mimi Arata said the general welfare of the county does get impacted by tourism, and she appreciated that McDonald’s wanted to be as visible as their competitors. She said Mother Lode corrugated steel is vertical, not horizontal, as in Trujillo’s compromised design.

Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Mike Kirkley said as a member of the city’s Development Review Committee, they were faced with a “Fresh & Easy” market’s “yellow sail” corporate logo, which they did not want to lose. Kirkley said the committee and city council stood fast and in the end, the design came back without the sail.

Ray Stacy of Big Horse Ranch urged supervisors to preserve history, heritage and documented sites. He said “what’s wrong with brick and mortar? Stand fast and preserve the heritage we’ve got.” He said McDonald’s has the money and wants to remodel to be able to get customers.

Sutter Creek Planning Commissioner Frank Cunha urged supervisors to allow the public comment period to extend into the next meeting, saying he would appreciate it. Boitano and supervisors agreed, extending the hearing and comment period to Jan. 10.

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