TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

Tarpon reconsiders chain store rules

ADVERTISEMENT

By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: July 4, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - The city will take a kinder, gentler approach to restricting big box retailers and other chain stores and restaurants that want to relocate into its business and commercial areas.

The City Commission rejected an earlier attempt by city planning and legal staff to restrict big box retailers and other chain stores as too restrictive. They did not want to chase away business, especially in these tough economic times, commissioners said at the time.

The revisions in the rewritten rules the commissioners considered Tuesday night were based upon a balancing of interests, according to Planning Director Renae Vincent.

"We can control the appearance, design and placement of retail chain stores without creating an over-burdensome process that may have the unintended consequence of driving such businesses away from the community altogether," Vincent said.

Commissioners asked staff to bring the revised rules back to them for formal consideration at a regular meeting.

During the review formula-based restaurants such as Chili's have been removed from the ordinance altogether, she noted.

The rules would continue to designate the U.S. 19 corridor between Live Oak Street and Klosterman Road the city's traditional highway business district. Under the revised rules formula-based store business would be allowed in the highway business district as otherwise permitted by the existing zoning regulations.

In all other areas of the city, such as downtown, formula-based businesses would be required to undergo a conditional use review, Vincent explained

Policies in the city's comprehensive growth management plan would help control large-scale development sites, including retailers such as Wal-Mart or Target. The ordinance still states chain stores should be regulated because they more economic muscle than locally owned small retailers.

"Formula businesses can have a competitive advantage over independent operators because they are typically better capitalized and can absorb larger startup costs, pay more for lease space, and commit to longer lease contracts," the ordinance states. "This can put pressure on existing businesses and potentially price out new startup independent businesses."

Chain retailers that are part of a development of 40 acres or more will be scrutinized for their compatibility with surrounding commercial areas and ability to accommodate mixed uses.

Under the revised ordinance, storefronts of greater than 50 feet in width must be designed to appear as multiple fronts, with screened interior or rear parking areas.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT