PC R 24-2394RESOLUTION NO. 24-2394
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE RECOMMENDING THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING
DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS REGARDING THE
DEFINITION OF FORMULA BUSINESS
WHEREAS, on April 26, 2005, the City Council held a study session to discuss
alternatives forthe regulations for chain businesses; and
WHEREAS, on August 23, 2005, the City Council adopted an ordinance to amend
Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (AGMC) regarding the definition of formula
business; and
WHEREAS, on May 23, 2023, the City Council directed staff to review the
definition of "Formula Business" in the municipal code and return with a study session to
determine if ordinance revisions were warranted; and
WHEREAS, on October 10, 2023, the City Council discussed potential revisions
to the definition of "Formula Business," and directed staff to proceed with an ordinance
amendment; and
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2024, the Planning Commission conducted a duly
noticed public hearing to consider the staff report, recommendations by staff, and public
testimony concerning the ordinance. Following the public hearing, the Planning
Commission voted to forward the ordinance to the City Council with a recommendation in
favor of its adoption; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of Arroyo
Grande hereby recommends the City Council adopt Ordinances approving Development
Code Amendment 24-001 amending Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code as
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this reference.
On motion by Commissioner Roof, seconded by Commissioner Sackrison, and by the
following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Roof, Sackrison, Maraviglia, Berlin
NOES: None
ABSENT: Buchanan
the foregoing Resolution was adopted this 16th day of January, 2024.
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CHAIR
ATTEST:
--
PATRICK HOLUB
SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION
AS TO CONTENT:
11�2zw�l
BRIAN PEDROTTI
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
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EXHIBIT A
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF
ARROYO GRANDE AMENDING SECTION 16.04.070 OF
THE ARROYO GRANDE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING
FORMULA BUSINESSES AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, on April 26, 2005, the City Council held a study session to discuss
alternatives for the regulations for chain businesses; and
WHEREAS, on August 23, 2005, the City Council adopted an ordinance to amend
Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (AGMC) regarding the definition of formula
business; and
WHEREAS, on May 23, 2023, the City Council directed staff to review the
definition of "Formula Business" in the municipal code and return with a study session to
determine if ordinance revisions were warranted; and
WHEREAS, on October 10, 2023, the City Council discussed potential revisions
to the definition of "Formula Business," and directed staff to proceed with an ordinance
amendment; and
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2024, the Planning Commission conducted a duly
noticed public hearing to consider the staff report, recommendations by staff, and public
testimony concerning the ordinance. Following the public hearing, the Planning
Commission voted to forward the ordinance to the City Council with a recommendation in
favor of its adoption; and
WHEREAS, on , 2024, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public
hearing to consider the ordinance, including: (1) the public testimony and agenda reports
prepared in connection with the ordinance; (2) the policy considerations discussed
therein; and (3) the consideration and recommendation of the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande, at its regularly scheduled public
meeting on , 2024 introduced this Ordinance to amend Sections 16.04.070
of Title 16 of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the ordinance have occurred.
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NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Incorporation. The above recitals are true and correct and are
incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. Environmental. The City Council finds that this ordinance is exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") because the ordinance does not
qualify as a "project" under CEQA and because the ordinance will not result in a direct or
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. (State CEQA
Guidelines section 15060, subd. (c)(2), (3).) Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines
defines a project as the whole of an action, which could potentially result in either a direct
physical change, or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change, in the environment.
Here, the ordinance will not result in any construction or development, and it will not have
any other effect that would physically change the environment. The ordinance therefore
does not qualify as a project subject to CEQA.
SECTION 3. Required Findings. In accordance with section 16.16.040(E) of the
Arroyo Grande Municipal Code, the City Council hereby makes the following findings:
1. General Plan. The ordinance's amendments to the AGMC are consistent
with the general plan and necessary and desirable to implement the provisions thereof.
Specifically, economic development objective ED2 and policies ED 3-4 and ED 5-4
support the small-town character and maintaining the Village as a vibrant downtown core.
Land use element objective LU6 also supports maintaining the Village core as a
"symbolic, functional and unique business center of the City" which can be achieved by
the adoption of the amendment to the definition of formula business and its
implementation. Thus, disallowing formula businesses, as defined, will ensure that current
residents, visitors, and future generations may enjoy the unique and historic character,
culture, and architecture of the Village, as contemplated by the above objectives and
policies of the General Plan.
2. Health, Safety, and Welfare; Illogical Land Use Pattern. Adoption of the
ordinance will not adversely affect the public health, safety, and welfare as it simply
updates the definition of "formula business" in the AGMC to ensure that the AGMC is
consistent with the City's general plan. Finally, this ordinance will not result in an illogical
land use pattern as it is not amending the City's zoning map.
3. Consistency with Title 16. This ordinance is consistent with the purpose and
intent of AGMC Title 16 because it removes an internal inconsistency therein and ensures
that the provisions thereof are consistent with the City's economic development and land
use elements.
4. Environmental. There will be no environmental impact by amending the
definition of a formula business because doing so authorizes no construction or
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development, nor could the definitional change of a formula business indirectly result in
a physical impact on the environment. See Section 2 "Environmental" above.
SECTION 4. Code Amendment. Subsection (C) of Section 16.04.070 of the
Arroyo Grande Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows (additions shown
in underline and deletions shown in ctrikethrn„nh)•
"Formula business". Shall mean a business, ;m,ited toFei8°�ade- uses —and
Feet' s that is required by contractual or other arrangement to maintain
standardized services and the same or similar name, tradename, or trademark which
causes it to be substantially identical to sixes ten 10 or more other establishments
at the time of application submittal, regardless of ownership or location., and -which
satisfies one of the fbilewing tWO GFiteFia;
a. it has exteFiGF design OF aFehiterA
uihinh i� GJiStinn4iVe fn eni! gtanederrli;[er) amnnn the nhein OF nrn„P•
h It is a fast fend= restauFan4
p :—r - uzrrurr.
SECTION 6. Publication. A summary of this ordinance shall be published in a
newspaper published and circulated in the City of Arroyo Grande at least five days prior
to the City Council meeting at which the proposed ordinance is to be adopted. A certified
copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance shall be posted in the office of the City
Clerk. Within 15 days after adoption of the ordinance, the summary with the names of
those City Council members voting for and against the ordinance shall be published
again, and the City Clerk shall post a certified copy of the full text of such adopted
ordinance.
SECTION 7. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective 30 days after
adoption.
SECTION 8. Severability. Should any provision of this ordinance, or its
application to any person or circumstance, be determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unlawful, unenforceable or otherwise void, that determination shall have
no effect on any other provision of this ordinance or the application of this ordinance to
any other person or circumstance, and, to that end, the provisions hereof are severable.
The City Council declares that it would have adopted all the provisions of this ordinance
that remain valid if any provisions of this ordinance are declared invalid.
SECTION 9. Records. The documents and materials associated with this
ordinance that constitute the record of proceedings on which the City Council's findings
and determinations are based are located at 300 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA
93420. The City Clerk is the custodian of the record of proceedings.
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On motion by Council Member _
the following roll call vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
, seconded by Council Member , and by
the foregoing Ordinance was adopted this day of._ , 2024.
54
CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
MATT DOWNING, CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ISAAC ROSEN, CITY ATTORNEY
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