McDonald's Finally Gets a Three-Star Rating

For two years, San Juan Capistrano McDonald’s franchisee Ross Pollard has been trying to get approval to tear down his dated, ’70s restaurant and replace it with new building.

Finally, city officials are loving it.

The council unanimously approved the third – possibly the fourth if you count another drawing done in black and white – rendition of the proposal. The architectural style went from contemporary to pueblo to … whatever you call the final version.

Former Planning Commissioner Rob Williams called it contemporary still.

“The project before you is a very contemporary building and has no business at the gateway of the city,” Williams said.

The project’s architect, James Bickel, a local resident, said if you asked 10 architects to define “old world style,” you’d get 10 definitions.

“I wanted to create a building that I could be proud of as well as my client and McDonald’s,” Bickel said.

“I think the design is great,” said resident Steve Behmerwohld. “I think they jumped through hoops long enough. It’s a McDonald’s. It will never be the Blas Aguilar Adobe. … It’s not going to be the Metropolitan Art Museum.”

Councilman Larry Kramer said he doesn’t expect every building to look the same in San Juan Capistrano. That’s not how it is.

“We’re not a planned community,” he said. “I expect this thing to look fine.”