Neighbors oppose proposed Marshall Street grocery as board prepares to consider Ordinance 13

City directors spent an extended portion of the meeting on a contested development and zoning item (Ordinance 13) for a neighborhood grocery site on Marshall Street.

Staff said the applicant, identified in board materials as Mel (Miss) Wyatt, has stated she will exclude alcohol, tobacco and lottery tickets from the proposed store. "Three of the stipulations that she has stated...that's going to be in her grocery store is the exclusion of tobacco, exclusion of alcohol, and the exclusion of lottery tickets," staff said.

Several board members recounted intense neighborhood opposition. "I have never gone to a meeting where there was standing room only at the meeting," Director Miller said, urging the applicant to meet with long‑time residents. Miller and other directors said neighborhood leaders and multiple petition signers opposed the site and questioned whether support listed in hearing records represented neighborhood residents or outside parties. Miller noted the application listed a Los Angeles address for the applicant and asked staff to verify local contact information.

Staff told the board that the U.S. Department of Agriculture designates the area as a food desert and that a 2023 city analysis supported that finding; staff said approval of the project could remove the food‑desert designation for the vicinity. Board members said neighbors nonetheless remain concerned about location, zoning map accuracy in the packet and community engagement; several directors said they expect a large turnout at the upcoming planning hearing and encouraged the applicant to work directly with neighbors before the next meeting.