OLDS — A new $1.75-million McDonald’s restaurant is tentatively planned for Olds, according to town development officer Kyle Sloan.
Sloan made the announcement during a municipal planning commission meeting last month.
During an interview with the Albertan, Sloan said the plan is for the new, stand-alone facility to be located in Cornerstone, just west of Tim Hortons.
He said plans call for the restaurant to feature a dual drive-thru lane.
Sloan said so far, the town has received an application for – and approved – a development permit for the project but as of Feb. 17 had not received an application for a building permit for it.
“So they applied for the development permit and it’s been approved, meaning that I’ve reviewed the land use that the property is in and determined (that) yes, this use is OK for that location,” Sloan said.
“But before they can start construction, they need to provide building and engineering plans that our building inspector will review and then he'll issue the building permit so they can start building.”
He said the two different permits are coming from two different companies, although they’re working together on the project.
Sloan was not sure when the new restaurant might be built or what it would mean for the current McDonald’s restaurant located at the west end of the Westview Co-op building.
“Maybe they’ve decided ‘we can try to have two in town’ or maybe it’s a replacement. I have no idea. I haven’t heard anything from the other McDonald’s franchisee,” Sloan said.
By press time, McDonald's headquarters had not responded to emailed questions about the project.
