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Resident reads draft ordinance to limit 'formula businesses' in Abita Springs' historic district
Summary
A resident, Stuart, read a proposed ordinance that would prohibit formula (chain) businesses inside the Abita Springs historic district and require conditional-use review elsewhere; he asked the council to consider it to preserve the town's small-town character.
During the public-comment period, Stuart (S10) read a proposed ordinance that would regulate "formula businesses"—defined to include establishments with standardized architecture, decor, signage or merchandise—by prohibiting them inside the Abita Springs historic district and requiring conditional-use approval elsewhere.
Stuart said the ordinance aims to preserve the town’s historic character and to require that any nonlocal chain demonstrate compatibility with local scale and design. "Whereas the Town Council finds it is necessary to preserve the historic town that time forgot atmosphere by ensuring that new commercial developments are compatible with the existing scale and character of the community," Stuart read aloud from the draft.
Stuart said he had sent copies of the draft to council members and urged the council to consider formal review. The council did not schedule formal next steps for the proposed ordinance during the July 7 meeting; members said public commenters can submit proposed ordinances for staff and council consideration and that the planning and zoning process would be the likely venue for formal review.
