Owner says McDonald's is a good neighbor in Findlay

The owner/operator of the McDonald's restaurants in Findlay is weighing in on the debate over the proposed rezone on McPherson Avenue. The rezone would make way for the construction of a third McDonald's in Findlay, on the city's south side. In a letter to council, Larry Ball, of North Baltimore, owner and operator of McDonald's in Findlay, defends his family's operation of the restaurants. The family has operated the restaurants for more than 50 years, and has been recognized by McDonald's as an outstanding operator, he said. The letter is included on council's agenda for Tuesday's meeting. Findlay Council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal building, 318 Dorney Plaza. The meeting is open to the public. Meetings are also routinely livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. The petition, which would rezone 119 W. McPherson Ave., from R2 Medium Lot Residential to C1 local commercial, was first introduced to city council at its Sept. 20 meeting and referred to committee. The petition was filed by Epic Collaborations, and signed by Angela Bateson as an "authorized member." Bateson, wife of Hancock County Commissioner Bill Bateson, owns the general dentistry office abutting the McPherson property at 1400 S. Main St. Earlier this month, council's Planning and Zoning Committee voted to recommend council table the legislation, and is expected to revisit the issue at its next meeting on Nov. 10. The meeting will be held in the municipal building at noon. The Findlay City Planning Commission has recommended that council reject the rezoning. No legislation to authorize the rezoning has been introduced to council. A separate petition, vacating an alley between West McPherson Avenue and Lake Cascades Parkway, adjacent to the property, is up for a second reading at Tuesday's council meeting. Both committees recommended approval of the alley vacation. Council has received several petitions, with more than 100 signatures from South Main Street residents and their neighbors, opposed to the rezoning. Their primary concern is the added traffic McDonald's will bring to South Main Street and the impact on the aesthetics of the historic neighborhoods. Ball said the South Main Street site has been evaluated for traffic and pedestrian use, and the intersection of McPherson Avenue and South Main Street functions well. Tony Coyne, an attorney for the petitioners, has also argued that West McPherson Avenue already has mixed zoning and is capable of supporting additional traffic. Coyne said the new McDonald's would be more than a million-dollar investment in the city and would create about 65 new jobs. "Other issues raised were very subjective in nature and implied we would not be a good neighbor. We feel we have been a very good neighbor for over 50 years. Many citizens of Findlay had their first job at McDonald's," Ball said. In the letter, Ball said community reaction to the news that McDonald's is considering opening a location on South Main Street hasn't been all negative. "We had responses from those that work in the area, notably the medical facilities on the south end of Findlay, which were supportive of a close place to get a meal," said Ball. "From others, who are at Blanchard Valley Hospital, who would have enjoyed a stop at McDonald's on their way to and from the hospital, many cited early morning or late evening, when the convenience would have been welcomed." Ball said his family cares about safety and traffic flow and "will be good stewards of the responsibility to operate this site."