Chase Bank/McDonald's Center on LL Council Agenda

A commercial project that could bring a Chase Bank, a McDonald’s and a specialty grocery store to Loma Linda is on tonight’s City Council agenda.

The council will decide to approve or deny the project. Terra Linda Commercial LLC proposed the project in the area of Barton Road and Mountain View Avenue.

Loma Linda’s Planning Commission gave the center’s design its support after the project’s developers made several changes, including making the center pedestrian friendly by making pathways wider.

There will be outdoor seating areas, and both Chase and McDonald’s agreed to set aside some of the traditional architecture in their buildings in favor of using stone façade, city officials said.

Developer, The Koenig Company, said they are also planning to preserve as many of the citrus trees in the area as possible. They will add more, city officials said.

City officials said the center would bring in needed sales tax. But the project has stirred up controversy as many locals who live and work in Loma Linda oppose bringing the fast food giant into their health-conscious town.

A small crowd of mostly members of Loma Linda’s extensive health care community have attended several planning commission and council meetings to protest. Many insisted the eatery’s food lacked nutritional value.

The Loma Linda City Council is scheduled for 7 tonight. It is the last scheduled meeting of the year.