Elk Grove City Council to Consider Changes to Old Town Design, Zoning Standards
The Elk Grove City Council will consider changing zoning and design rules for the city’s Old Town area during their next regular meeting on...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2010/02/elk-grove-city-council-to-consider.html
The Elk Grove City Council will consider changing zoning and design rules for the city’s Old Town area during their next regular meeting on Wednesday, February 24
The Old Town neighborhood is considered a “special planning area” (SPA) and as such has clearly defined design and zoning restrictions. Because of these restrictions, a number of businesses hoping to locate in the area have been denied.
Most recently, a tattoo parlor hoping to locate in the SPA was denied a permit because it did not meet the narrowly defined types of businesses who could be permitted to operate in the area. Noting that the area has received ample funding and is still struggling to become an economic viable portion of the city, the council has decided to reexamine the SPA’s restrictions and consider amendments to the plan.
Another long simmering topic the city will discuss is the fate of the Sunset Skyranch Airport on Grantline Road. The facility, which is outside Elk Grove city limits, is fighting Sacramento County efforts to close the facility.
The council will consider whether or not to request the county to defer a decision of closing of the facility until Elk Grove’s Sphere of Influence Application with the Sacramento County Local Area Formation Commission is heard. The facility is in the area that Elk Grove hopes to place in its sphere of influence.
The meeting starts at 6:00PM.
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Having spent some time in Bob's Club, located in the heart of the SPA, I wonder -- if it didn't already exist, would it be granted a permit to operate in the area?
My observation: well over 40% of their clientele have tattoos. There isn't anything more American than tattoos and alcohol...about the only things we still produce here in this nation. Two-fifths of our kids will someday get tattooed whether or not the special planning area forbids a parlor. Consider all that lost tax revenue for the city!
Tattoos are restricted in the SPA while not three miles away at Bruceville and Bighorn we've permitted a cigarette shop to sell a fantastic variety of glass pipes, sneak-a-tokes, bongs (glass-on-glass & ceramic), stash jars, one-hitters, sliders and blunt papers -- ostensibly for the "roll-your-own" tobacco crowd. Uh-huh.
Crack pipes? OK. Tattoos? No way.
I totally agree. Councilman Cooper, who cited his years of on the beat sheriff experience, shared that he has NEVER had a problem at a tatoo shop. The biggest problems? Bars and apartment buildings. That's why I'm boycottting the Brickhouse restaurant. The proprietor stood and spoke out against allowing a tatoo shop in Old Town. Guess he got his BAR and now nobody else should be allowed in. Ad what about ol' Scherman's statement that allowing a tatoo shoop would be the "..crash of Old Town Elk Grove". Poppycock!! Come into the 21st century, Sophia!!!
Having a tattoo parlor in old town is fine with this resident... as long as the same type use is also allowed in ANY commercial zone (business district) within any location within the city limit. So, for example, if a tattoo parlor wants to open up in the shopping center by KOHLS or in the new mall.. they'd be okay to do so.
Yes, Phillip, it seems to be rather arbitrary to establish limits for one area yet not another within the city.
I personally don't think a tattoo parlor would be the worst thing we could be permitting. It might not appeal to a large number of Elk Grovians, yes I might agree, but truthfully this would be a local endeavor. The one thing that would absolutely destroy Old Town would be non-local chains and franchises. The success of any Old Town hinges on a predominant mix of independent retailers and restaurants that create a worthwhile sense of place, of value. This is clearly spelled out in the EG SPA, too -- local enterprises are favored.
Anyone could most certainly argue that a tattoo parlor may not adequately represent the cultural values of an old Elk Grove. OK. But in the context of a city hell-bent on suburban sprawl and cheap retail, I can't see how denying a tattoo shop holds equal weight to allowing XX thousand more low density homes east of Old Town and the crush of future commuters through Elk Grove Blvd. In my view, the success or failure of Old Town is predicated on how the city grows around it. If all our city council values is property taxes from new residents, well...
The classic, vexing problem of sprawl that every "community" deals with is that we say we want our "Old Towns" yet we clamor for cheap discounted volume that only large scale strip and big box retail provides. If I tried to open a lamp and lighting shop in Old Town I'd be competing with a Lowe's that the city might approve not two minutes away at Elk Grove and Waterman. As cheap housal units beget cheap lighting needs, an independent lighting shop would have immense difficulty competing -- yet would be exactly the sort of business that would get approved for that area.
The Friends of Madiera are locked into the same fight -- they don't want the SuperWalMart near them -- yet they will most certainly find themselves driving to shop there wherever it does open...because WalMart will open one (or two), you can be assured of that.
I just think all these issues are inter-related --they seem to go hand in hand, but no one ever puts them into the same hand. No one.
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