May 16, 2023

Petition to the Village of LaGrange: 

Concerned Neighbors Regarding McDonald’s Proposed Plan 

We, residents and neighbors on North Madison Avenue, are concerned about and vote against several aspects of the proposed plan to demolish the current structure and construct a 24/7 McDonald’s at the corner of Ogden Avenue and LaGrange Road. While we appreciate McDonald’s offer to improve fencing and landscaping, we do not believe McDonald’s plan for a 24/7 restaurant should be approved as submitted to the Village. 

Here are our concerns:

1. Increased potential for crime: Restaurants (and other retail establishments) which are open 24/7 bring additional risks for criminal activities. The nighttime risks of low staffing, cash payments, and lack of observers (customers and other general traffic) bring an unacceptable level of potential “opportunity” for robbery and other violent crimes. At least one residence has been burglarized on Madison Avenue in the past. Retail food establishments which are open 24/7 (including McDonald’s and Waffle House) have reported increased overnight and evening hours can increase crime. Examples of this increased risk for criminal activities include both nearby 7-Elevens (47th Street at LaGrange Road and Ogden at East Avenue), which have experienced multiple robberies in the past several months and years:
   • 7-Eleven East & Ogden armed robberies on:
     • 11/27/22 - 6:30am
     • 1/26/23 - 11:30am
   • 7-Eleven 47th & La Grange Rd. armed robberies on:
     • 1/16/21 - 1:08am
     • 1/24/21 - 3:40am
     • 3/10/23 - 9:30pm
2. Increased garbage volume, leading to rodent issues: If a restaurant is open additional hours, more customers (with resulting food preparation waste) will result in increased trash. Even if McDonald’s agrees to remove trash on a daily basis without exception as proposed, the additional hours will of course result in more waste which can attract rodents and other scavengers.  There are more than 20 small children on Madison Avenue; the presence of rodents can lead to an increased exposure risk to diseases such as Hantavirus, Hemorrhagic Fever, Leptosprirosis and numerous others (rodent-borne ticks are a leading vector for childhood disease). There is also the environmental concern of additional waste disposal.
3. Environmental issues of Noise and Light Pollution: Additional hours overnight will result in added noise to a residential neighborhood. Already loud music can be heard from the parking lot and drive-through lane during the current hours McDonald’s is open. While the possibility of adding more lighting to the parking area and two proposed drive-through lanes may help security, additional ambient lights can be disruptive to sleep for neighbors. 
4. Traffic concerns: There are two separate issues which pose safety concerns for residents and their children:
   • First, unfortunately, Madison Avenue has a significant problem with cars “cutting down the street” to avoid the light at LaGrange Road and Ogden. This practice continues despite the recent signage (“no right turn 4-6pm weekdays”).
   • Second, the exit onto Ogden Avenue does not permit a left turn after visiting McDonald’s (although cars frequently ignore this sign). This creates a turnaround problem since there is no left/eastbound turn permitted and access to go eastbound off LaGrange Road isn’t currently possible. There is a significant problem with cars turning right out of McDonald’s, then right again onto Madison Avenue and turning around in driveways to turn left onto Ogden. This increased traffic and danger to pedestrians from the ability to use Madison as a turnaround strategy causes serious safety concerns.

We would like to request the following: 

• Denial of 24/7 hour operation-keep the hours as currently exists (as recommended by Village staff – Staff Memorandum PC Case #120 – A Special Use for a Planned Development, Site Plan Approval, and Design Review Permit for the construction of a new McDonald’s facility located at 100 N. La Grange Road, Pg. 15)
• Honor the prior agreement forged with neighbors more than 20 years ago regarding daily waste removal and rodent/pest control
  Exploration of noise abatement measures for parking and drive-throughs
• Traffic study assessing strategies to stop/limit turning onto Madison Avenue out of McDonald’s (currently used by motorists to enable a left turn back onto Ogden)
• “Speed bumps” on Madison Avenue to discourage cutting through/turnaround behavior

Ann & Bob Blouin

110 N. Madison Ave.