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Newark council debates ordinance to keep new convenience stores 500 feet apart
Summary
Council members debated an ordinance to require 500-foot spacing between newly constructed convenience stores, with supporters saying it preserves corridor diversity and opponents asking for clearer definitions and licensing guidance before a vote.
Council members spent a significant portion of the Jan. 22 pre-meeting discussing an ordinance that would amend the city’s convenience-store registration rules to require new and newly constructed convenience stores to be at least 500 feet apart.
Supporters said the rule would prevent overconcentration of similar retail uses along commercial corridors and encourage a broader mix of businesses. Councilman Ramos, sponsor of the ordinance, said, “This has nothing to do with closing down businesses or trying to stop businesses from opening and developing… this ordinance is simply an intent to have vision for our city” and that existing stores would be grandfathered in.
The o…
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