When my husband and I were searching for a place to retire, we were looking for a place where we could be part of a small town. We didn’t want to be in the middle of a farmer’s field where we had to drive to everything. We found that place in Milton, where we have lived for over seven years. We have a walking trail to town and can walk to the annual Christmas parade, the library or patronize a local business or restaurant. When we tell people that we live in Milton, the response is always, “I love that town,” or “That town is so cute.” We even have an annual Bring Mayberry Back to Milton festival!
So when I read about a McDonald’s possibly coming to the small shopping center in town that has our only supermarket, I felt like I had to do something. I started a petition, which at this writing has more than 130 signatures. I went to the Feb. 21 meeting of the planning and zoning commission (I am an introvert by nature who has never gone to a town meeting before) and voiced my opposition, and presented copies of the petition. I stressed that many of the people who signed the petition are not opposed to a McDonald’s somewhere in Milton, just not at that location at the end of a historic street and affecting the access to our only supermarket. I asked the McDonald’s representatives at the meeting if they could just find another location farther down Route 16 that wouldn’t increase the existing traffic issues on that section of Route 16 (between Mulberry and Union Street); many people would welcome them. Their representatives stated that they expect up to 700 trips per day for this location; although, the study that they quote wasn’t done during peak tourist season with about 70% of that traffic going through their drive-thru window. Imagine how hard it will be to get in and out of the Food Lion shopping center at certain times of the day! McDonald’s said this will only increase the wait time at this intersection by one-and-a-half seconds per vehicle, so no changes are needed at this intersection. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
As a retired CPA, I understand the importance of attracting new businesses to a town to increase the tax base and lessen the tax burden on homeowners, but we also need planned growth so we can maintain our town’s character. So I ask McDonald’s, can you work with us to find a more fitting location for your restaurant and make this a win-win? And I ask my fellow Miltonians to come to the next planning and zoning meeting at 6:30 p.m., March 21, at Grace Church on Union Street (either in person or remotely). Let’s keep the Mayberry in Milton.
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