MCDONALD'S BID PREVAILS OVER RESIDENT OPPOSITION.

VAN NUYS - A city panel Thursday night declined to block a McDonald's restaurant planned for a busy Northridge corner despite emotional opposition from residents who claim the fast-food site will bring increased traffic, litter, and noise.

The North Valley Area Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the residents' appeal of the McDonald's permit, but promised to review the site in one year and determine whether traffic and other issues were being sufficiently mitigated. Three of the commission's five members were present.

More than 70 residents attended the three-hour meeting, many with similar complaints over the 3,250-square-foot site of a former gas station.

``This is not an indictment of the fast-food industry,'' said resident Martin Gold. ``It's a call to stay away from our homes with the traffic, trash and bad smells.''

The proposed restaurant for the southwest corner of Balboa Boulevard and Lassen Street required a conditional-use permit because of its nighttime operating hours and drive-through facility.

The intersection is zoned for commercial use, and is surrounded by a single-home, upscale residential neighborhood.

``We are already blighted by two other fast-food locations,'' said resident Herb Saxon, ``a third one will complete the destruction of our neighborhood.''

Other residents complained of conditions they said the site will exacerbate, such as transients, littering, loud music late at night, graffiti and increased traffic at an already congested intersection. ``Our windows already rattle from the loud music in the cars from the fast-food places,'' said Daisy Gaitan-Valle.

However, McDonald's spokeswoman Jeanne Kemp told the panel the store owners would do everything possible to mitigate trash and traffic problems.

``You have my assurance on behalf of the corporation that McDonald's has a no-loitering policy,'' she said. ``Graffiti and litter will be dealt with within 24 hours, and delivery trucks will also be operated on-site.''

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Proposed McDonald's