Collegeville Borough Council approved a land development plan regarding the Collegeville McDonald’s, which includes removing the Play Place, improving site circulation, and adding a side-by-side drive-through.

“This is all part of the new McDonald’s re-branding initiative, in regards to bringing a lot of their existing facilities up to the new look of the McDonald’s,” said Michael Jeitner, Principal of of Boehler Engineering, who presented to council at its January meeting along with Bill Zuccarello of McDonald’s.

The site, on the corner of Main and Second Streets, will be closed for roughly four months during construction, which is likely to begin around September of this year.

The new site circulation will feature the same number of access points, but will allow more ways around the building, and a bypass lane around the drive-through.

The double-bay drive-through will allow two customers to order at once, increasing efficiency of the drive-through – which makes up as much as 70 percent of McDonald's business.

Awnings will be placed on the drive-through bays, and the turn radius will increase in the drive-through.

The look of the building will also change significantly.

“Some of the bright colors are going away,” Jeitner said, in favor of brick and stack stone.

A pedestrian access plan is also in the works, including cross walks and ramps.

Council Member Louise Tulio pointed out that, based on the photos, the site will be similar to the McDonald’s in Limerick.

The land development plan, which was already approved by the Collegeville Planning Commission, was approved unanimously by borough council.