For years, this scenic Russian River Valley enclave has labored to foster a neighborhood supportive of native companies, partly by making it troublesome for giant chains to maneuver in.
In 2018, Sebastopol leaders created an outright ban on sure chain companies — notably eating places and lodges — from its downtown.
However this month, one of many nation’s largest pizza chains plans to open up in that actual downtown space — a lot to the priority, and shock, of many locals.
The brand new Little Caesars restaurant was someway authorised in error, metropolis officers not too long ago admitted, as first reported by the Press Democrat. The approval of the brand new franchise for the chain seems to have been granted regardless of being in direct battle with town’s prohibition of “system,” or chain, companies in its downtown.
Officers with town of Sebastopol owned as much as the error however stated it was too late to reverse course on the Little Caesars venture, in accordance with an announcement shared on town web site. The town didn’t instantly reply to questions on how the error would possibly change enforcement of the ban transferring ahead.
The Metropolis Council, nonetheless, not too long ago thought of updating the ordinance, hoping to make clear its language and ease enforcement, officers stated at a September council assembly. However these adjustments are nonetheless underneath overview, and it doesn’t seem they might reverse the downtown ban on chains.
In an announcement in regards to the Little Caesars approval, officers stated town “regrets this oversight, accepts full accountability for the error, and stays dedicated to transparency, accountability, and the constant enforcement of metropolis insurance policies and procedures.
“We respect the neighborhood’s understanding and persistence as we strengthen our processes.”
The assertion didn’t say how the venture got here to be authorised however stated officers with town’s administration had already began a “complete overview of the allowing course of to establish the trigger and implement corrective actions.”
Past the ban of sure chains in its downtown space, Sebastopol zoning legal guidelines for business areas outdoors of the downtown district particularly regulate and require extra permits for “system companies,” that are chain companies with 25 or extra areas nationwide, in accordance with town. Little Caesars Enterprises Inc., primarily based in Detroit, was based in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant, however it has since expanded dramatically, with areas in all 50 states and in 30 international locations and territories, in accordance with the enterprise.
The Press Democrat reported that the Little Caesars deliberate for Sebastopol, at 231 Petaluma Ave., plans to open someday this week.
