McDonald's Expands in Port St. Lucie, Securing Approval for Dual Drive-Thru Restaurant

Port St. Lucie, Florida – The City Council has approved a special exception use for a new 3,859-square-foot McDonald's restaurant featuring a dual drive-thru at the busy intersection of S. US Highway 1 and SE Jennings Road. This marks a significant step in the redevelopment of the 1.56-acre parcel, which was formerly occupied by a closed Sonny’s BBQ restaurant slated for demolition.

The project, spearheaded by property owners Daniel P. Coyne & Gail A. Coyne and represented by Daryl Johnson of Corporate Property Services, Inc., is situated on Parcel ID 3414-501-3810-100-1, an area zoned General Commercial (CG). The proposed building will have a maximum height of 18 feet, 9 1/2 inches.

A key component of the approval process was a comprehensive queue analysis, which projected the restaurant to generate 857 net new daily trips, including 86 during the AM peak hour and 57 during the PM peak hour. The dual drive-thru system, designed with a counterclockwise flow, is engineered to accommodate up to 15 vehicles. Based on a study of three similar McDonald's locations, the maximum projected queue is 13 vehicles during AM peak hours and 8 vehicles during PM peak hours. This analysis confirmed that the on-site vehicle storage is adequate, preventing queuing from spilling into cross-access driveways or adjacent roadways, a finding supported by the Public Works Department.

Site access will be facilitated by three connection points: two internal drives linking to the parcel north of the site, and a right-in/right-out driveway on SE Jennings Road. The site plan emphasizes safe one-way vehicular circulation and includes ADA-compliant pedestrian sidewalks and appropriate signage. The development also provides 54 off-street parking spaces, exceeding the required 52 spaces.

The project garnered support from the City of Port St. Lucie Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in January 2025, which recognized the development's alignment with goals for business investment and economic growth within the U.S. Highway 1 corridor. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the special exception use and conceptual plan on August 5, 2025. Following a public hearing on August 25, 2025, the City Council formally granted the special exception use through Resolution No. 25-R46, effective immediately upon adoption.

The proposed McDonald's is expected to be an asset to Port St. Lucie, offering employment opportunities and an affordable dining option for residents, while also adhering to all land development regulations and ensuring compatibility with the surrounding commercial area.