Sebastopol City Council to Again Consider Prohibiting Chain Stores

[Sara S]

from the Press Democrat 10/6:

The Sebastopol City Council on Tuesday will take another stab at passing a new ordinance designed to balance support of unique, locally owned businesses with a desire to ensure residents have access to services and products they desire in town.

A proposed formula business ordinance would prohibit specifically defined chain restaurants, hotels and motels in the city’s downtown core.
It also would limit development of other standardized businesses downtown and elsewhere, requiring use permits and findings by the city that each proposal meets the city’s desire for a mix of businesses that contribute to “economic vitality” and prevent residents from spending their dollars outside of town.
The draft ordinance targets businesses with at least 25 “substantially identical” outlets anywhere the United States, based on uniform services or merchandise, signage, menus, design, color schemes, employee apparel, trademarks and other standardized features that contribute to the kind of “cookie cutter” business districts Sebastopol is trying to avoid.
It would not apply to existing businesses or plans already approved for new stores. Formula businesses of 10,000 square feet or less would be permitted in specified shopping centers, including the Redwood Marketplace and the Fiesta shopping centers, both on Gravenstein Highway North, as well as the Southpoint and the Gravenstein shopping centers, both on Gravenstein Highway South.
“The formula business ordinance allows us to have, I think, a healthy mix of business sizes and types,” Mayor Patrick Slayter said. “The wrong word for it is a ban. It’s anything but a ban. What we’re trying to do is guide it in a way that we feel is beneficial to the community.”
The council has considered several approaches to a formula business ordinance this year and approved the current version by unanimous vote Sept. 1.
But it decided to postpone a required second vote on it two weeks later after questioning a provision that exempted “offices, banks and credit unions, electronics stores, tax preparation services, gyms and exercise establishments, and gas stations” from the ordinance. Additionally, Slayter said he did not want to vote in the absence of Councilwoman Sarah Glade Gurney, who was not present Sept. 15, because all council members had been deeply involved in crafting the proposal.
Councilman Robert Jacob said he expected some additional discussion of the exempted businesses Tuesday, but said there is enough discretion in the ordinance for the council to grant a use permit to a formula business that would meet an unfilled need.
If the council makes substantial changes to the draft ordinance, it is required to again schedule a second authorizing vote before the new ordinance can take effect.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the school library at Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave. in Sebastopol.