SPRINGFIELD -- City councilors and South End representatives have raised sharp concerns about a proposed 24-hour, 7-day a week drive-up service at a Main Street McDonald’s, criticizing the alleged current conditions including loitering, littering and late-night trouble.
In addition, some councilors participating in a Monday night public hearing on McDonald’s special permit request at 386 Main St., raised serious concerns after learning that the McDonald’s drive-through was open 24-hours-a-day earlier this year, triggering a cease and desist order by the city.
Tyrone Davis, the fast food restaurant’s director of operations, said that the 24-hour-a-day drive up was already in place by the prior owner, and he continued it. The hours were limited to between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. under the original 1991 special permit, depending on the season and day of the week.
Davis said the restaurant has complied with the cease and desist order.
Ward 3 City Councilor Melvin Edwards said trouble in past months included a murder in February. He also said there has been persistent littering and aggressive panhandling. The violation of the set hours was occurring over a long period of time, he said.
The homicide victim, Robert Crochiere, 18, was sitting in the drive-up lane at approximately 2:45 a.m.,-- after the permitted closing hour of midnight -- when shot Feb. 24, city officials said. Three men were subsequently arrested and are awaiting trial.
Leo Florian, president of the South End Citizens Council, said Monday he was upset that Davis was in agreement with a negotiated 2 a.m. closing of the drive-up less than two weeks ago, and then kept hold of his request for an around-the-clock drive-up Monday
“I’m very surprised they’re still pushing for 24 hours,” Florian said.
Davis said he agreed to 15 other neighborhood conditions, but chose to stick with the unlimited hours. He said he would abide by an earlier closing hour of the drive-up if required by the council. Late night customers include police and medical workers, he said.
The owners of the Tazzini Funeral Home on Locust Street also stated their strong opposition to the unlimited hours, with third generation owner George Tazzini III, saying he did not support it being open” one millisecond beyond its current hours.
“As we all know, nothing good happens after midnight,” Tazzini said. “Check the police report. So let’s not give McDonald’s another inch since they clearly and blatantly continue to take miles.”
The neighborhood council and Planning Department staff has recommended a 2 a.m. closing of the drive-up, with an opening of 5 a.m. Service inside stops at 11 p.m. or midnight, officials said.
Davis said he has encountered problems with customers coming to the drive-up after closing, and being angered, and sometimes tossing things at the restaurant.
Multiple councilors said control of the business and the parking lot is fully the responsibility of the ownership.
Davis stressed that the restaurant is an independent business, not owned by McDonald’s Corp. The property owner is listed in city records as McDonald’s Corp., of Enfield, Conn.
He said that a neighboring business, Balise Auto, has offered to extend its private security detail in the later night hours to the McDonald’s, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Councilor Timothy Allen said that even the recommended 2 a.m. closing time for the drive-up does not solve the issues of problematic conduct.
“Your responsibility for the conduct of people in line, and in the parking lot -- that needs to be tended to,” Allen said.
Davis said he placed a road sign and then signs on the menus, to let people know when the drive-up was closed late at night, but some people kept coming.
Edwards said it is not the neighborhood’s problem -- “that’s your problem.”
In addition, Edwards suggested the restaurant should have its own security to handle the issues outside rather than rely on Balise for help.
Florian said the original 1991 special permit under different ownership has been “disregarded for years,” and the neighborhood council tried to give the new owners a few years ago the benefit of the doubt. With the coronavirus striking in March of 2020, the neighborhood again did not crack down, he said.
“But enough is enough,” Florian said.
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