In Lviv, the McDonald’s on Rynok Square fast food restaurant has agreed to relocate equipment and upgrade its systems in order to reduce noise and odours in the building’s courtyard. This was agreed during the third working meeting between representatives of the city, residents of Rynok Square and the business.
The building on Rynok Square is a nationally significant architectural monument, so Lviv City Council does not have the authority to take decisions on approving, replacing or dismantling structural elements of the building. Permits for the project were issued by state bodies, including the Ministry of Culture and the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Development. The City Council stresses that it is currently acting as a moderator of dialogue between residents and the business.
McDonald’s operations manager Yurii Kos stated that by 7 July the company plans to relocate part of the equipment, provide additional soundproofing and install air purification systems. According to him, specialists have already carried out inspections and acoustic measurements in the flat and near the equipment, identified specific sources of noise that are causing readings to exceed the norm, and are ready to move this equipment inside the restaurant premises, thereby easing the load on the courtyard.
To reduce odours, McDonald’s plans to seal the air ducts, install an additional high-capacity industrial ozone generator in the kitchen, and fit lamps in the ventilation units to break down residual smells. Wherever possible and where this does not affect historically valuable elements, the slate will be replaced with sound-absorbing acoustic panels. In addition, at the request of residents, fire safety equipment will be installed in the courtyard.
Rynok Square 19 resident Oleksandr Lipko claims that, in his view, the establishment’s activities infringe residents’ constitutional rights. He believes that the permits issued to the company were obtained without proper on-site oversight. At the same time, Lipko noted that the business has promised to work on eliminating the sources of noise and other shortcomings and that the prepared projects are to be completed by 7 July.
Executive Office Manager of Lviv City Council’s Executive Committee Yevhen Boiko described the situation with McDonald’s large-scale structures in the courtyards of buildings on Rynok Square as paradoxical, since the city is deprived of the ability to influence decisions regarding monuments of national importance. He highlighted three key problems: noise, odours and ventilation shafts that block residents’ light. Some solutions have already been developed, and the business owners have agreed to remove part of the equipment from the courtyard.
The parties agreed that the first three issues of greatest concern to residents must be addressed by 7 July, as recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The city, together with residents, will monitor compliance with these commitments and plans to inspect the progress of the works as early as next week, while other issues will be discussed at the next meeting with a wider group of residents.