By Stuart Foster, Contributing Writer
MARLBOROUGH – Raising Cane’s, a fast food chain that specializes in chicken fingers, has submitted an application to open a restaurant in Marlborough.
The restaurant, which would be located at 141 Boston Post Road West, would feature dual drive-through lanes. As such, it requires a special permit from the Marlborough City Council.
“Raising Cane’s will be unique to Massachusetts in that it is one of the first national concepts with a single item on its menu to enter the
market,” wrote Mark Donahue, an attorney for Fletcher Tilton, P.C., in a memorandum supporting the application. “Raising Cane’s gives back to the local communities we serve in five core areas —education, feeding the hungry, pet welfare, promoting active lifestyles, and developing entrepreneurship.”
Drive-through sales made up around 75 percent of Raising Cane’s sales even before the COVID-19 pandemic, wrote Donahue. Donahue added that drive-through lanes would be essential for Raising Cane’s, especially as consumers continue to avoid indoor dining due to the coronavirus.
David Balducci, an owner operator for Sellia Corporation doing business as McDonald’s, however, wrote a letter to the City Council opposing the application.
Balducci said he is concerned that, because McDonald’s would share an entrance with the proposed Raising Cane’s restaurant, the dual drive-through lanes could interfere with the free flow of traffic at McDonald’s.
“Safety concerns for vehicles, patrons as well as employees of the restaurant as they navigate the parking lot are a major concern,” Balducci wrote.
He elaborated, saying that there could be traffic safety issues if traffic backs up from the Raising Cane’s drive-through into the McDonald’s area.
A certification by Building Commissioner Tin Htway found that the Raising Cane’s site plan conforms to the Marlborough City Code.
The application and Balducci’s letter of opposition were on the agenda for the May 24 City Council meeting, but City Council Vice President Kathleen Robey moved to refer the application to the Council’s Urban Affairs Committee and set a public hearing for June 21. The motion was unanimously approved.
