Editorial: A full Sausalito council should vote on Peet's

[Old Sausalito Phool]

Ice Princess has a great idea! Peet's would be a perfect business for the Old Vahalla-Charthouse-New Valhalla-Gaylords site. They could serve food. There are no other coffee shops in signt. There is ample parking. Too bad it is still on the Waterfront...

[lenscraft]

John Chandler wrote:

Here's a thought, after over a year without a tenant, eliminate the Prop 13 exemption on these derelict properties and force the landlords to reconsider their P&L's in the light of the assessments the rest of us are paying taxes under.

John, I totally agree that this would be a great idea, but Prop 13 is a state-wide proposition, and would require a state-wide decision to modify. Maybe in the upcoming constitutional convention?

[sausalitohxbuff]

coyote wrote:

Just FYI, I'm not sure why it's saying 'Cupertino' next to my name, I live at Main & Crescent.
The fact is that 1250 Bridgeway is not in the downtown historical district, and would not be ugly, so the comments of 'sausalitohxbuff'(who the site says is from Mill Valley) would not apply to this site.

It may say Mill Valley but I am a Sausalitan and in Sausalito.Born and raised.:)

[sausalitohxbuff]

Sausalito Resident wrote:

I'm not quite sure what sausalitohxbuff meant saying that Starbucks was one of the first two establishments, unless it was one of the first two "formula retail" establishments; and it wasn't that, either. There have been many occupants of the Starbucks site. Starbucks is merely the most recent.
I would also like to know precisely what is wrong with Peet's (with 185 outlets) that is not wrong with Starbucks (with 16000 outlets).
The 1250 Bridgeway site is not in the historic area, has plenty of offstreet parking (vs the double-parking Benzes, Beemers and SUV's blocking Princess Street in front of Starbucks every morning) and will serve residents, tourists and waterfront workers alike.
This is classic NIMBY politics at its best.

Oh and what do you call the ARKS next to it?BTW that is a protected area under the watchful eye of the H.L.B.(Historic Landmarks Board).

[lenscraft]

I just called City Hall and was told that Peets' request for postponement was being denied, and that the issue would be discussed at this evening's meeting.

The bill in question is not Peets'-specific, but rather amends the code so that 'formula retailers' can occupy waterfront property with a conditional use permit. A conditional use permit requires large amounts of due diligence, and can be rejected anywhere along the way (any rejection kills the project.)

I will be there, arguing for this change to the city code. There is no reason that this space should not be used as a coffee shop. It's a beautiful site and the public should be allowed to enjoy it.

[Sausalito Resident]

sausalitohxbuff wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh and what do you call the ARKS next to it?BTW that is a protected area under the watchful eye of the H.L.B.(Historic Landmarks Board).

Is the area protected or are the arks protected? I suggest you read the Staff Report for the November 17 Sausalito City Meeting Agenda Item 5A, Zoning Ordnance ZOA 09-072 Attachment 4 page l line 43. The building exterior will remain essentially the same with no large-scale renovation. The Staff Report discusses the arks, which will not be affected by the zoning change. The Staff Report addresses parking and traffic flow. The zoning change requires any formula retail use in the CW zone to obtain a Conditional Use Permit to ensure the use is consistent with the area. MacDonalds and Bubba Gump's can't simply move in because Peet's got away with it. The Staff Report did not find any discussion to indicate why the CW zone was ommitted from the original zoning ordnance requiring a CUP in the CC and CN zones. Rather, the Staff Report indicates omission of the CW zone from the ordnance may have been inadvertent.

[sausalitohxbuff]

Sausalito Resident wrote:

<quoted text>
Is the area protected or are the arks protected? I suggest you read the Staff Report for the November 17 Sausalito City Meeting Agenda Item 5A, Zoning Ordnance ZOA 09-072 Attachment 4 page l line 43. The building exterior will remain essentially the same with no large-scale renovation. The Staff Report discusses the arks, which will not be affected by the zoning change. The Staff Report addresses parking and traffic flow. The zoning change requires any formula retail use in the CW zone to obtain a Conditional Use Permit to ensure the use is consistent with the area. MacDonalds and Bubba Gump's can't simply move in because Peet's got away with it. The Staff Report did not find any discussion to indicate why the CW zone was ommitted from the original zoning ordnance requiring a CUP in the CC and CN zones. Rather, the Staff Report indicates omission of the CW zone from the ordnance may have been inadvertent.

The ARKs are protected.Reading the staff report(I have) and having lived here and being involved with protection of Sausalito are two different things.Change the rules and we will have Mc D's and anything else you can think of.And all this for a coffee shop. How about patronizing the ones already IN Sausalito.

[lenscraft]

sausalitohxbuff wrote:

<quoted text>
Change the rules and we will have Mc D's and anything else you can think of. And all this for a coffee shop. How about patronizing the ones already IN Sausalito.

Respectfully, this seems like irrational fear and hand-waving. It's easy to say "If things change, we're all doomed!" If you don't say how the doom will come about, it means nothing.

The fact remains that this is an abandoned site, Peets' is a local business, and Sausalito residents want to be able to drink their morning coffee by the water in this very-pleasant site.

The change in question allows 'formula' retailers to apply for a conditional use permit. The granting of a conditional use permit requires sign-off by boards and committees (including the Historic Landmarks Board).

And the new business would still be regulated by Sausalito's Formula Retail Ordinance, which includes:

1. The Formula Retail establishment will be compatible with existing surrounding uses, and has been designed and will be operated in a non-obtrusive manner to preserve the community's distinctive character and ambiance;

2. The Formula Retail establishment will not result in an over-concentration of formula retail establishments in its immediate vicinity or the City as a whole;

3. The Formula Retail establishment will promote diversity and variety to assure a balanced mix of commercial uses available to serve both resident and visitor populations;

4. The Formula Retail establishment will contribute to an appropriate balance of local, regional or national-based businesses in the community;

5. The Formula Retail establishment will be mutually beneficial to and would enhance the economic health of surrounding uses in the district;

6. The Formula Retail establishment will contribute to an appropriate balance of small, medium and large-sized businesses in the community, and

7. The proposed use, together with its design and improvement, is consistent with the unique historic character of Sausalito, and would preserve the distinctive visual appearance and shopping experience of Sausalito for its residents and visitors.