By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews Staff
McKinney City Council opened its first meeting of 2026 by honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Minutes later, that reflection gave way to a divided debate over traffic safety and development along Virginia Parkway.
Mayor Bill Cox proclaimed January 19, 2026, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in McKinney, urging residents and local leaders to “reflect on the richness and strength of our diverse community,” before council turned to a closely divided vote on a proposed McDonald’s drive-through at 3300 Virginia Parkway.
A Project That Reignited a Broader Traffic Debate
The McDonald’s proposal returned to council for a third time, requiring a Specific Use Permit because drive-through restaurants are not allowed by right under the site’s zoning. Lucas Raley, McKinney’s Director of Planning, told council that staff again recommended approval, calling the site “appropriate for the proposed use and compatible with existing and adjacent land uses.”
Several council members said the vote could not be separated from roadway conditions. Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Gere Feltus, who lives just south of the site, said her concerns focused on traffic safety, citing “the high speeds at which people come around that curve and people coming out to make that left turn.” She described the area as “a very uncomfortable intersection, even for an experienced driver,” adding that she does not allow her teenage driver to make the turn.
Residents Describe the Area as Already “Sketchy”
Public testimony echoed those concerns. Sarah Hustwit, a McKinney resident who regularly shops at the adjacent Walmart, told council the area already feels unsafe.
“I’m very familiar with this intersection and trying to get out of that Walmart is already sketchy,” Hustwit said. “Adding a McDonald’s that has a very high volume of traffic over there, I feel like is just asking for more trouble.”
Hustwit pointed to blind curves, existing congestion, and the proximity of Bonnie Wenk Park as reasons she believed the site was ill-suited for a high-volume drive-through restaurant.
Applicant Argues Traffic Issues Exist Regardless
Representatives for McDonald’s acknowledged traffic concerns but argued they pre-date the proposal and are not unique to the project. Leslie Ford, representing McDonald’s as the applicant, told council the site already allows other drive-through uses by right, meaning a similar development could proceed without council approval.
“What’s very interesting,” Ford said, “is that our actual property does actually permit a coffee shop with a drive-through window… by right… without coming to see you guys.”
Ford also argued that denying the permit would neither solve the traffic issues nor benefit the city financially, noting that leaving the property undeveloped would forgo tax revenue. “A one-acre property here on Virginia is not the solution maker to the entirety of the problem on Virginia,” she said. “We cannot solve for the issue that is currently there.”
Staff Confirms Traffic Growth, No Immediate Fix Planned
Gary Graham, McKinney’s Director of Engineering, told council that traffic volumes along Virginia Parkway have increased significantly in recent years. “Our last traffic volume on Virginia Parkway was in 2023, and that was roughly 39,000 vehicles a day,” Graham said, noting that congestion on U.S. 380 has pushed more drivers onto alternate routes.
Council members repeatedly asked about the possibility of a traffic signal near Bonnie Wenk Park, but Graham said no such improvement is currently planned. “We do not have a traffic signal planned at either of the location,” he said. “I don’t know that there’s enough traffic volume at Bonnie Wenk to meet our traffic signal warrants.”
Graham cautioned that congestion is likely to intensify as the city continues to grow. “These streets are going to get more and more congested, and these driveways are going to be more and more difficult to get out,” he said.
Two Votes, One Clear Divide
After extended discussion, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Gere Feltus moved to deny the Specific Use Permit, but the motion failed on a 4–3 vote. Voting to deny were Mayor Bill Cox and Council Members Justin Beller, Patrick Cloutier, and Ernest Lynch, while Feltus, Rick Franklin, and Michael Jones voted against denial.
Because council was required to take final action, a second motion was made to approve the permit. That motion passed 4–3, with council members voting in the same alignment.
Supporters of approval cited zoning consistency and warned against penalizing a single project for broader infrastructure issues. Justin Beller said, “We approved a development here with the intent that this is a developable pad site. To go back and say we’re not going to allow that development because of road design or ingress/egress… we’re sending a message that I don’t think is great.”
Opponents said safety concerns should take precedence. Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Gere Feltus countered, “If there is something that I can say, I would like to make a decision on behalf of the safety of the residents of McKinney. That’s the way I’m going to act.”
With the approval vote finalized, the McDonald’s drive-through was authorized to move forward, even as council members on both sides acknowledged that traffic challenges along Virginia Parkway remain unresolved.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on the official agenda and public meeting transcript from the Jan. 6, 2026 McKinney City Council meeting. For continued local government coverage, follow TX3DNews.