San Bernardino City Council reverses the decision to turn this long vacant spot on Baseline to approve the proposal for fast food chain McDonald’s on August 5, 2026.

San Bernardino, CA — In the city where the now global fast food chain originated, a proposed McDonald’s that has generated months of debate over economic development, public health and the city’s planning priorities received approval from the San Bernardino City Council on Aug. 5, reversing an earlier council decision and overturning the Planning Commission’s denial of the project.

The council voted 5-1 to approve Appeal 26-09, clearing the way for a 3,684-square-foot McDonald’s with a drive-thru at 116 W. Baseline St.

Councilmember Sandra Ibarra, who represents Ward 2 where the project is located, cast the lone opposing vote.

The decision was the latest turn in a lengthy approval process. City staff told the council that the Planning Commission rejected the project in March.

The council subsequently denied the developer’s appeal 4-3 on June 17 before voting 6-1 on July 15 to reconsider the matter.

The city’s agenda gave council members two alternatives: approve the appeal and overturn the Planning Commission’s denial or deny the appeal and leave that decision intact.

The development calls for consolidating six parcels on approximately 0.74 acres within the Commercial General and Transit-Overlay District.

Associate Planner Christian Calasan said the site, at Baseline Street and Sierra Way, previously contained a Dollar Tree and check-cashing business and has remained vacant for about seven years.

City code enforcement has documented vandalism, trash and other maintenance problems at the property.

Plans include demolition of existing structures, 25 parking spaces and a two-way drive-thru lane.

Public Works also identified improvements along Baseline Street and Sierra Way, including roadway widening, sidewalk reconstruction and an ADA-compliant curb ramp.

Zeeshan Yunus, representing the McDonald’s project, told the council the development would bring infrastructure improvements, landscaping, jobs and sales tax revenue.

“McDonald’s can and will activate a critical and underutilized piece of property and it will serve the community for many years,” Yunus said.

The proposal nevertheless drew sharp opposition from residents who argued that another fast-food drive-thru conflicted with the city’s transit-oriented development and public health goals.

Ward 7 resident Ruben Mendoza questioned why the council was reconsidering a project that had already been rejected and argued that the city should instead pursue housing, transit-oriented development and community-centered spaces.

“We do need economic development, but relying on a national fast-food chain isn’t a strategy,” Mendoza said. “It’s a short-sighted compromise.”

Yvette Romero, who said she lives directly across from the proposed development, urged council members to uphold their previous decision.

She questioned whether repeatedly reconsidering the proposal undermined residents’ confidence in the public process.

“At what point does an appeal process become a tool for exhausting the community?” Romero asked. “How can residents trust a civic process when a decision can be reconsidered repeatedly until the applicant receives the outcome it wants?”

Romero also cited the city’s environmental and health findings in arguing that San Bernardino already has an abundance of fast-food establishments compared with full-service grocery stores.

Supporters countered that developing the vacant property could reduce blight and improve conditions surrounding the site.

A speaker representing neighboring Dollar King Plus Market described persistent vandalism and other problems around the vacant property and said an operating business would provide additional lighting, security and jobs.

“The more you improve the San Bernardino area, the more businesses we get, the more peace we get,” the speaker said.

During council deliberations, supporters on the dais emphasized economic development and sales-tax generation.

Councilmember Mario Flores, who had requested reconsideration of the project, also questioned staff about what could otherwise be developed on the property.

Staff confirmed that a sit-down restaurant without a drive-thru would be allowed by right, although permits would still be required.

The council also unanimously advanced the annexation of a Quick Quack Car Wash property into Community Facilities District 2019-1 to fund maintenance services.

The agenda also included $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding proposed for reallocation from the Façade Improvement Paintbrush Program to the Navigation Center, alongside an increase of $717,620.64 to the Mandeville Modular agreement for that project.

Three scheduled items were pulled before consideration: an application for the U.S. Department of Justice’s fiscal 2026 Model Cities Initiative Grant, the city’s Homeless Strategic Action Plan implementation framework and a discussion of shelter-operation policies.

The latter two were moved to a future meeting.

The council’s next regular meeting was scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library.