Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 Jul 08 - Newspapber ArticleOfficials claim ver By John Basile %)'/� SOUTH YARMOUTH — The controversial paint'jdb on the McDonald's restaurant on Route 28 in South Yarmouth has focused attention on a 10-year-old agreement between the town and the then -owner of the restaurant. When the McDonald's restaurant was granted a special permit in 1989, its owners agreed to maintain the building's exterior in a "Cape Cod style" and for years it was a sub- dued gray with white trim. . But, the restaurant was sold a few months ago and its current owners, Mark and Janice McBee of North Easton, apparently don't feel the verbal agreement is binding on them and they have gone ahead with a bright red, white and yellow paint job that has startled many in Yarmouth and caused town officials to take action. The agreement, although not in writing, is binding, according to the Yarmouth Building Department and the Route 28 Task Force, the group that works with businesses to generally improve the appearance of Route 28. The task force has had a string of successes and the group's co- chairman, Dick Martin, says McDonald's disregard for the look of Route 28 is a "slap in the face" for the community. "McDonald's says it is trying to get back to the look of the '50s," Martin said. "We've been trying to pull Route 28 out of the '50s. Most businesses have done it and done it well." Yarmouth Building Commissioner James Brandolini said his department is "in the process of reviewing the min- utes" of the board of appeals meetings in 1989 that led to the agreement between McDonald's and the town. The conflict is typical of what can happen when national corporations come to Cape Cod, bringing their logos and paint schemfs with them, sometimes in direct opposition to how people in a particular town want their community to look. But, there is not always conflict. Martin cited recent examples along Route 28 where Christy's Markets and Cumberland Farms have built new gas stations and conve- nience stores and in each case have greatly improved prop- erties that were out of date and in poor condition. ►al agreement on Mc -paint job still holds "All of them worked with the community to keep their new buildings in character with Cape Cod," Martin said. The town has also seen improvements along Route 28 with two "undevelopment" projects. One saw a former gas station converted to a small park at the intersection of Route 28 and North Main Street. Another involved the demolition of a motel to clear a vista of Parker's River. The town has also purchased the former drive-in movie proper- ty and the former Rascal's nightclub, both of which front on Lewis Bay. Grants have been handed out annually for nearly a decade to assist Route 28 business owners in upgrading the facades of their buildings and many proper- ties have been improved with landscaping. Martin said he is well aware that Route 28 is Yarmouth's primary business thoroughfare, but he rejected the view that it cannot be saved. "We don't expect it to be like Route 6A, but we would like to maintain some kind of class," he said. "The fact is the McDonald's site is one road and one lot away from a historic district," Martin said, referring to the South Yarmouth Historic District that encompasses the Old Main Street and Bass River Village area. Late last month, Brandolini issued a stop work order against McDonald's, and while painting was briefly halted, work soon resumed. McDonald's has 21 days from the date the order was issued to either appeal the order or repaint the building. In a letter to Brandolini, McDonald's said the paint scheme is an attempt at "refreshing the look" of the restau- rants and stressed that the building is still in a Cape Cod style, despite the new colors. McDonald's requested nun- utes of meetings at which the style of the building was dis- cussed by the board of appeals. The Route 28 Task Force strongly believes that there is a binding agreement in place that says the color of the build- ing will be subdued and is urging residents to complain about the paint scheme to the McBees, the McDonald's Corporation and to the local restaurant. Martin said he has heard from "hundreds" of people who don't like the paint scheme. However, he also said he has The red, white and yellow paint job on the McDonald's restaurant on Route 28 in South Yarmouth was halted temporarily after the town issued a stop work order, but work later resumed and the job was completed. The town and the Route 28 Task Force continue to press McDonald's to return the building to a more traditional Cape Cod appearance. Staff photo by John Basile received anonymous threats over the phone after he went public with his concerns, demanding that he. mind his own business. In an open letter to the community, the Route 28 Task Force also speculated that the McBees' decision to go with the bright colors may be "retaliation" for their failure to secure a site on Route 134 in South Dennis last year. The Land Court in Boston recently upheld a Dennis ruling that denied McDonald's permission to open in a former bank building there. Despite several phone calls, Mark McBee could not be reached for comment by press time. A McDonald's repre- sentative at the corporation's Westwood offices did not return a call seeking comment.