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San Carlos council wrestles with formula-business rules and possible parking maximums
Summary
At a study session, staff proposed easing review of retail "formula businesses" (chain stores) by switching some applications from conditional use permits to minor use permits, and suggested considering off-street parking maximums as a TDM tool. Council generally supported more study and outreach before formal changes.
San Carlos staff asked the city council Aug. 25 to weigh policy changes aimed at diversifying downtown retail and cutting regulatory friction for some applicants.
Planning Manager Lisa Porus described two distinct regulatory ideas: first, converting retail formula-business reviews from a conditional-use-permit process (Planning & Transportation Commission) to a minor-use-permit process handled by the zoning administrator to reduce time and cost for applicants; and second, evaluating off-street parking maximums for new development as a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measure tied to state and regional VMT and grant-eligibility policies.
Why it matters: formula-business limits were adopted to protect locally owned retailers in the downtown core. Any change…
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