McDonald's seeks approvals for a new Commack restaurant

McDonald’s is looking to bring one of the fast-food chain's restaurants to Commack, where it would replace a vacant Boston Market.

The proposal with the Town of Smithtown calls for a 3,694-square-foot site with a drive-through on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Veterans Memorial Highway.

Besides the shuttered Boston Market restaurant, an existing Wendy's sits on a 1.38-acre parcel at the intersection.

The property was sold in September 2024 for $2.4 million, according to property records.

The McDonald’s proposal includes a reconfigured parking layout, according to documents detailing the project.

The fast-food chain is seeking four variances. The first would allow it to reduce the property's front lot from 50 feet to 35 feet. The second would permit it to trim the minimum setback from any lot line from 10 feet to 1 foot for a trash disposal area. The Chicago-based multinational is also asking to cut the minimum parking requirements from 69 spaces to 53. 

In an Aug. 7 memo, Smithtown's planning department noted that it has no objection to the requested variances as long as the applicant reconfigures the parking layout and internal traffic circulation for the entire site.

“The parking area and internal drive aisles should be redesigned to improve vehicular circulation, reduce potential traffic conflicts and create a more functional site plan,” the memo stated.

An attorney for McDonald’s presented the plans to the town’s zoning board of appeals at its Aug. 11 meeting . 

McDonald’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The town's zoning board is awaiting a State Environmental Quality Review Act recommendation from the town's Department of Environment and Waterways. Should the board grant the variance requests, McDonald's would then have to file a site plan application. The required final step would be a building permit.

Last year, the town approved site plans for a McDonald's on Crooked Hill Road in Commack. Nearby, a Raising Cane's is replacing a longtime McDonald's on Vanderbilt Parkway.