Time was running out for San Juan Bautista’s interim urgency
ordinance had not city officials approved an issuance report Friday
regarding regulation of fast-food restaurants and big-box retail
businesses.
Time was running out for San Juan Bautista’s interim urgency ordinance had not city officials approved an issuance report Friday regarding regulation of fast-food restaurants and big-box retail businesses.
“Basically what the moratorium does is leave things in status quo until such time you consider how and to what extent you want to regulate big-box retail and formula business,” City Attorney Patrick Whitnell said.
City officials held the special meeting because a provision in the government code requires cities to file an issuance report stating the action taken to alleviate the conditions as adopted in its ordinance.
The urgency ordinance was written under a section of the code to protect the public safety, health and welfare of the citizens and residents of San Benito County.
The motion passed 4-1 with Councilman George Rowe casting the only no vote.
Council could not take action to extend the moratorium and will consider the issue during its Feb. 3 meeting where public comment will be heard and the fate of the ordinance decided.
Council passed the urgency ordinance in December after a lease agreement between proprietors of Subway Sandwich business and Windmill Market Plaza owners was worked to bring the restaurant chain to the market.
San Juan Bautista resident Jim Pereyra said the urgency ordinance was a “smoke screen” created by the city to justify a need for the moratorium after the city discovered it could not prove an ordinance governing big-box retail and formula business.
“It is literally a smoke screen for this moratorium,” he said.
Assistant Fire Chief Scott Freels asked Council if it understood the government code in which the ordinance was written under.
The ordinance was written under a section of the code to protect the public safety, health and welfare of the citizens and residents of San Benito County.
“In a nutshell, I’m not quite sure where a Subway Sandwich shop is jeopardizing the (public) safety and welfare, unless they choke on it,” Assistant Fire Chief Scott Freels said.
According to resident Cara Vonk, preserving the city’s historic character did fall under the public health and welfare of the city, stating communities similar to San Juan – like Carmel and Pacific Grove – have adopted ordinances preventing chain stores. She said Council should do the same.
“It is definitely in the city’s best interest,” she said.
Traffic at the intersection of Highway 156 and The Alameda has more than doubled in the past 10 years, said co-owner of Windmill Market Jim Gibson said.
“I don’t see anyone worried about the ambience of that corner that much.”
Gibson said Subway was a potential benefit to the community because people stopped at the traffic light have time to look around.
“You have the power of the land, you don’t need big signage,” he said. “Any kind of sign to draw people off the road.”
Business owner Lazlo Scervics said the city needed more businesses to attract tourists downtown and to encourage other businesses to consider locating in San Juan.
“Manage your property properly,” he said. “If you don’t manage your property properly you’re going to hurt (businesses).”
