NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Thursday, the Metro Planning Commission voted to deny the appeal of a downtown McDonald's to rebuild following a fire one year ago.
McDonald's officials wanted to tear down the burned structure and rebuild it with similar "suburban-style" parking, with stalls nearest the street. However, officials said that style doesn't comply with new zoning regulations.
The Downtown Code Design Committee denied McDonald's modification proposal, and said the company must rebuild the building itself next to the sidewalks, either facing Broadway or 12th Avenue, and all parking must be behind the building.
"One of the requirements is, businesses be built up to the street. So when they started talking about removing their current building and putting a new one in, then the new rules applied," explained Craig Owensby with the Metro Planning Commission.
McDonald's argued that a two drive-through lines will back up on to Broadway if they comply with the new design requirements. The fast-food chain appealed that decision to the Commission.
The Commission voted 6 to 1 to uphold the prior decision.
The restaurant closed after a fire in an air-conditioning unit damaged the roof of the building on December 10, 2011. It has not re-opened, and remains boarded up.
