In Drohobych, open electronic consultations with residents on the possible implementation of an investment project — opening a McDonald’s outlet and improving Taras Shevchenko Square — have been completed. The project was initiated by the developer PP “Sarmat” and McDonald’s in Ukraine, who jointly developed a proposal for the development of this area. A final decision on the implementation of the project will be taken after a land auction is held and all necessary procedures have been completed.
The survey ran for two weeks on two platforms — via a Google Form and the E-dem e-democracy service. In total, 3,754 responses were collected, of which 3,659 came through the Google Form and 95 via the E-dem platform. The organisers stress that these consultations are advisory in nature, do not replace public hearings and are not a form of expression of the community’s will as provided for by law.
According to the Google Form data, 91.9% of participants stated that they had familiarised themselves with the official visualisations and description of the project. The idea of opening a McDonald’s in Drohobych was viewed positively by 80.2% of respondents, with a further 6.3% answering “rather positively”. As for the proposed location and outline proposal, 72.9% of participants responded positively, 5.7% rather positively, 8.9% negatively, 3.5% neutrally, and 1.1% rather neutrally.
On the E-dem platform, 95 people voted: 43.2% chose the “positively” option, 10.5% “rather positively”, 37.9% “do not support”, 6.3% “rather negatively”, and 2.1% remained neutral. Overall, 53.7% of participants took a positive or rather positive view of the potential opening of the outlet, 44.2% expressed a negative or rather negative position, and a further 2.1% adopted a neutral stance.
The organisers of the consultations note that each participant could vote only once in each of the forms. At the start of the Google Form’s operation, a technical possibility of repeat voting was identified and promptly removed. The final count included only unique responses; repeated submissions of the form were not taken into account.
During the consultations, residents submitted numerous questions, clarifications and proposals both regarding the Drohobych project itself and the operating principles of the McDonald’s network in Ukraine. All these submissions have been passed on to the company and the potential developer partner for review, preparation of responses and consideration of constructive comments.
The land plot proposed for the implementation of the project is located in a functional zone where the city’s Master Plan permits the placement of food service establishments. Its designated purpose is the construction and maintenance of tourist infrastructure facilities and food service establishments. The leasehold for this plot is planned to be put up for an open land auction.
At present, it is McDonald’s that has expressed interest in this location as the one that best meets the network’s requirements in Drohobych. The assessment takes into account convenience for residents and visitors to the city, pedestrian and transport accessibility, as well as potential demand. PP “Sarmat” intends to take part in the auction to obtain the leasehold. If it wins, this company will carry out the construction of the facility, after which McDonald’s will lease the premises to operate the restaurant — under a mechanism the company uses in other cities of Ukraine.
Drohobych City Council emphasises that the completion of the electronic consultations does not mean that construction will start automatically. Further decisions will be taken by councillors within the framework of current legislation, and the implementation of any potential project will require completion of all prescribed procedures, including an open land auction. At the same time, the consultations have made it possible to gather the views of thousands of residents, so further discussion is planned on the basis of the published project parameters, legal requirements and the results of public consultation.