ARCHES: Riverstone hurt by McDonald's

I was dismayed and disappointed to see the new McDonald’s emerge at a highly visible location in the taxpayer-subsidized Riverstone development.

What an incredible lack of foresight. Not only do the Golden Arches overshadow the publicly funded sculptures intended to beautify Northwest Boulevard, but this business stands in direct contradiction to many of the values I thought our city (and the LCDC) were aiming to promote.

This mega-chain certainly will interfere with the success of local restaurants, and does nothing to promote health, environmental stewardship, nor the creation of a live/walk/dine/shop community as was afore-promised. If stipulations were not in place to promote better community planning before this incredibly poor decision took place, I certainly hope they will be considered now. It would behoove our community to prevent other such chains from taking hold and further detracting from the beauty as well as the integrity, health and economic vitality of our community.

ALISON GRANIER, M.D.

Coeur d’Alene