Could new Balmoral McDonald’s congest traffic?
A common complaint in the 877 submissions Auckland City Council received against the proposed Balmoral McDonald’s restaurant are about the implications of traffic coming to the restaurant.
Many local residents are concerned traffic flow in the area will be affected negatively by the additional vehicles McDonald’s will attract to the site on the corner of Balmoral Rd and Dominion Rd.
Central Auckland resident Guy Robinson said in his submission that there will be increased traffic flow and queues through the 24-hour fast food restaurant’s Drive Thru.
Traffic Planning Consultants director John Burgess prepared an assessment and statement of evidence for McDonald’s.
Based on results from the busiest McDonald’s branches such as Manukau, Mr Burgess predicts the average total number of vehicles to the Balmoral restaurant will be 1900 on the busiest day resulting in 3,800 vehicle movements.
Mr Burgess said that the busy traffic environment that exists on Balmoral Rd and Dominion Rd can accommodate additional traffic without detrimental effect on the operation and safety of the roads.
The Council’s planning report concludes that additional traffic will be significant enough to “result in a reduction in amenity values and a change in the character of the local residential environment”.
Mr Burgess said that Wiremu St will continue to operate safely and efficiently as a residential road if the McDonald’s restaurant is established.
He also said that the right turn from Wiremu St to Dominion Rd can be difficult but that he does not believe the proposed McDonald’s will have any significant effect on this movement.
The proposed 63 car parks McDonald’s would provide is ample according to Mr Burgess, and more than the 55 spaces the District Plan requires.
One existing on-street parking space will be removed after the Drive Thru entrance is built, and Mr Burgess points out that the Council would have the opportunity to create six new angled car parking spaces when the existing vehicle crossing is closed.
“In fact, I believe that parking demand on the site will be less than the parking provision that is proposed, and it may well be that other members of the public will choose to use the McDonald’s parking when visiting other establishments in the area,” said Mr Burgess.
Up to eight full days have been set aside this month for all submissions to be heard.
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Comments and questions9
John Burgess has been producing the same information for the same clients for more than 13 years that i am aware of. What else do you expect him to say when they pay most of his salary.
Not having seen the plans but does he really propose to have angled parking on Dominion or Balmoral Roads? That would be a nightmare and kill people.
The area is already bereft of car parks due to the large numbers of quick-service style restaurants in the vicinity.
This matter is made worse by the fact that the Capitol has finally re-opened. This will chew up the few remaining car park spaces that are easily available withing a short walking distance.
Secondly, these ridiculous council sessions are a great big useless waste of time.
The deal is done.
They tried with the failed 'Fruit and Veg' approach.
But, with a small army of expensive lawyers and consultants, a global library of documents with the sole purpose of defeating small communities, mixed with a huge pot of money available to beat down all opposition, McD's will eventually win.
McD's main KPI for the next financial year is to increase the number of outlets. They've said so on these pages just a few weeks back.
Small outlets aren't working anymore. Remember, they had to close some down last year. They don't add up anymore.
Another point to remember is that every McD's franchise owner is a millionaire. There is a lot of money, ego, and pride at stake here.
Finally, ever tried turning into Balmoral or Dominion Roads?
Good luck. Take your time. Get side bags and intrusion bars. Have an up-to-date will.
McD's should feel ashamed. They have enough sales. Enough profit. Enough bad press.
McD's are, in terms of perceived popularity, the new Telecom.
Only a new series of feel good TV ads telling us how they've changed for good, could only remedy the situation.
If you read the documents prepared by this guy on the council website, he had no idea where north south east or west were on Dominion road. He doesnt care about the area and neither do McDonalds, as they says its just business...
A McDonalds or a bunch of messy, untidy and downmarket asian cafes, internet hangouts and general trash shops? Have a look at this whole area. It is a horrible mess. A McDonalds is no more likely to cause a problem that all the illegal parking from those other cafe customers, probably a lot less.
As for the 'they are all millionaires'.
Jeez, get OVER yourselves.
Half the people who give you whining prigs jobs are millionaires, because they worked for it; harder, longer and more dedicatedly that you did. Don't be so priggish. Forget McDonalds, watch for the council to set you up for intensive housing alongside Dominion Rd, with tenant intensity per square metre the same as Amsterdam. Welcome the Balmoral slums.
Go back over previous Traffic Planning Consultants 'spin' talking-up previous clients projects and you will doubtless find his 'expertise' errs on the side of his clients. Just as it does John Childs, et al
If he keeps saying the same thing I bet it is because he is always right - otherwise where are the examples of the disasters he didn't predict.
If the community don't support McDonalds they won't buy from there - and "Millionaires" don't get that way by opening McDonalds outlets that don't have customers.
Get over it
I like McDonalds nom nom nom
Paul, you're a franchise owner, aren't you? Thought so.
McDonald's millionaires get their way by buying into a franchise that is supported by a massive system that's proven to be fail-safe.
All the franchise owner has to do is work it. Some get fired. Some sell out. Some fail. If they do look like failing, then head-office gets in to support it - unless you're a complete loser whose operation is in an already over-saturated market ,then you get cut off.
Is there a need for a new McDonald's? I doubt it.
Is there a need for a new KFC? Probably not. But at least the KFC over the road from the proposed McD's is making a buck.
But you have to look at the business opportunity for opening in Balmoral. Which is pretty daunting on paper: An over-saturated local area full of cafe's (mainly catering to an asian student market), lack of parking, and a local population that doesn't want it there. But hey, McD's has faced bigger hurdles. They have teams dedicated to making stuff like this happen.
On the positive side, there's a number of schools nearby, a major arterial route that's always clogged full of cars (drive down Dominion Road 2pm on a Saturday, you'll see a backlog of cars stretching over a kilometer in either direction), high density housing near St Lukes supplying an endless stream of under 30 year olds with high income to burn (oh, there's a McD's already there...hmm).
Now, Paul, before you reply. I used to work in the head office of McDonald's. I know the routine.
I look forward to your reply. You might want to run it past the guy at the top first. PR has a guideline in case you're unsure.