The Anacortes City Council is possibly heading down a very anti-property rights road by considering a ban on Formula Businesses in the Central Business District, or Old Town as the locals call it. Check out page 24 of the 2008 Development Regulations Review. The City Council defines Formula Businesses as a “…type of retail sales activity, retail sales store, eating and drinking establishment, entertainment venue, or similar business which is part of a group or “chain” of standardized businesses which , along with seven or more other such establishments, maintains two of more of the following features: a standardized array of merchandise or food, a standardized facade, a standardized interior and/or exterior decor, ownership or centralized management outside the state of Washington, a uniform apparel, standardized signage, a trademark, logo or servicemark.” To begin with, it’s unclear if my company could locate in downtown Anacortes, and we’ve been part of the community since 1988. Becuase we have a standardized logo and standardized signage and there are more than seven Windermere offices; can I set up shop downtown? What if McMenamins wanted to buy the Majestic, something that would no doubt be great for tourism and our town. What if one of our local small businesses got all creative and inspired and branched out and opened seven more locations? Six, and they are fine, but that seventh….how dare they. Why would it be ok to have banks, grocery stores, and gas stations; all of which are Formula Businesses locate in the CBD?
I guess I just don’t think it’s the role of government to get in the way of market forces, let supply and demand dictate what goes where, and what a property owner can do with their very valuable investment. Why should government tell them who can and can’t buy their property, or who can and can’t sign a lease and locate in their investment. Reality is, the formula businesses I believe the city is worried about won’t consider locating in Old Town Anacortes. Most Formula Businesses need a far higher car count than Commercial Avenue provides, at least in the Old Town area. This ban will only have a negative effect on some property owners and current business owners with high aspirations.
I believe what Cynthia Richardson, the author of the Formula Business restriction, really wants to avoid is driving down through old town and seeing the same old thing you see on Burlington Blvd in Burlington; a bunch of franchise fast food places, craft outlets and Fred Meyers with golden arches and half naked mermaids. If so, and in her defense I haven’t asked her, but if so; those things can be addressed by zoning regulations that dictate building styles, not building inhabitants. The inhabitants will be dictated by the market, and that’s the only thing that should dictate them.
The Anacortes City Council has a public hearing on Tuesday May 27th, at 7:30 PM. Please show up and comment or send them your thoughts.
–Nate
1 response so far ↓
Megan O'Bryan // May 20, 2008 at 11:36 pm |
Great editorial. It’s wise for a small, charming town like Anacortes to be concerned about preserving its character. But there are ways to ensure a bright future for Old Town without the prohibitive wording the City is currently considering. Limiting the property owners’ ability to sell, rent, or lease their buildings may ultimately hurt the area as the pool of prospective buyers is artificially shrunk by regulations instead of by virtue of financial ability and vision.