Par
Guillaume Laurens
Published on
Dec 29 2024 at 8:18 a.m.
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To the great dismay of some residents, a fast food restaurant will indeed emerge from the ground Montrabéa peaceful town of 4,300 souls – according to the very latest census – located in the north-east of Toulouse. The building permit filed last March was validated at the end of May 2024, free appeals were evacuated, but no legal recourse was finally brought.
A new McDonald’s on the side of the Lavaur road
A petition entitled “We don’t need a fast food restaurant in Montrabé” — ultimately signed by less than 1,000 people — was launched last May on change.org by the town’s Parents’ Association. Worried about the line of her Pitchouns, she saw “a great threat” in terms of “the environment, health, quality of life and local economy”. This will not have stopped the project in any way.
After having submitted a first building permit at the beginning of the year, refused due to a problem with the direction of traffic, McDonald’s reviewed your copy. Unsurprisingly, the file was validated by Toulouse Métropolewhose services oversee town planning projects in the 37 municipalities in the region. And “the permit was granted in accordance with the directives of the Metropolis”, confirms Jacques Sebi, the mayor of Montrabé, Toulouse news.
On the edge of the busy M112 (also called route de Lavaur) on land sold by an individual and overlooking the Super U store, this new fast restaurant in 150 m², will have a drive-thru and will be located on the street, a few dozen meters from new residences built in this city which continues to grow.
“Already four fast food restaurants within 5 km” of Montrabé
A McDonald’s in Montrabé? The petitioners, however, considered themselves already copiously served in this matter, because “to date, four fast food restaurants are located less than 5 km away. While the restaurant will be located a few hundred meters from the Paul-Cézanne collegefrom which teenagers can easily come on foot, “it has been shown that such proximity leads to 5% increase in obesity in the school-aged population”, these parents were still worried, who had referred it to the mayor of the town.
But Jacques Sebi, questioned by Toulouse Newshad warned that he had “no room for maneuver to prevent the establishment of a fast-food restaurant, whatever it may be, if it respects all the town planning rules”.
“No value judgment” to make on McDonald’s for the mayor
Considering that the mayors had not “not to interfere in the choice of brands”, the city councilor also believes that he “no value judgment to bear on the name of the restaurant”, while “McDo suffers from the poor brand image of fast restaurants”.
“I understand the residents’ concern about brand image from McDonald’s and I share it,” says Jacques Sebi today. “But to the extent that the project complies with the legal requirements planning, I can only base myself on the conformity of the file. When the right is acquired, it must be applied.”
Free remedies, no legal action
Despite this apparent vehemence locale, no legal action was finally brought against the brand: “I only had free appeals, filed by individuals”, confirms Jacques Sebi, in this month of December 2024. “In total, five graceful appeals were submitted, I challenged them, because I did not have the elements to accept them,” continues the mayor, who responded to each of the citizens concerned at the beginning of September.
These were local residents who mainly talked about the history of junk food. I understand it, I am a doctor, but I cannot base myself on that to accept or refuse a building permit! I engage the criminal, but also financial, responsibility of the municipality…
These opponents had two months following receipt of this missive to file an action. legal recourse at the level of the Administrative Court, and according to our information, no one risked it.
“It’s not the town hall that we should hit,” Jacques Sebi repeatedly reminds us, “they’re on the wrong target, perhaps voluntarily too,” slips the chosen one, alluding to the next municipal deadlines.
After fast food, a medical office
Last spring, McDo France for its part confirmed “an interest” in setting up in Montrabé: “this project responds to strong demand to benefit from a varied, accessible offering with a wide range of hours.” The fast food giant assured, however, that it would be “at heart” to “integrate as best as possible into the town’s urban planning plans” and “meet local expectations”.
When will the brand start work in this area of Marignac? When contacted, she did not wish to elaborate on the subject.
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