Rebuilding of McDonald's Will Start in a Few Weeks

The restaurant on Rochester Road will be torn down and rebuilt. The owners say they hope construction can start in a few weeks.

Rochester Hills City Council approved a conditional land use request Monday night for the restaurant, which was . The restaurant has been vacant since then.

Last  in front was more than a foot high in some spots. "It's getting to look really bad out there and we would like you to clean it up," said resident Lorraine McGoldrick, who addressed McDonald's request.

"We'll take care of the grass first thing," responded owner Bill Saputo.

McDonald's needed council's permission because drive-through restaurants require a special permit.

Rochester Hills Director of Planning and Economic Development Ed Anzek said the proposed new restaurant will be a "tremendous improvement" over the current building, both in design and features.

The new McDonald's will have only one access point to Rochester Road. The parking lot and driveway will feature a bypass lane in front of the restaurant, so customers who are circling the parking lot for a parking slot would not need to travel out onto Rochester Road and back again.

The exterior design will be consistent with the newer McDonald's restaurants — cast stone accents, metal accent awnings and "BellaBrik" walls.

It will feature a side-by-side drive-through and additional landscaping areas. Inside, coffee and smoothie bars will be built.

Plans call for a second entryway from the access drive to the north of the restaurant. Anzek said he plans to discuss the possibility with owners of the gym.