San Carlos Grows Weary of Chain Stores, Seeks to Protect Laurel Street

San Carlos City Council is looking to make it more difficult for chain stores to find a home on Laurel Street.

Councilman Cameron Johnson has proposed that chain stores be required to obtain a conditional use permit until the City can update zoning codes that put them under a greater level of scrutiny before being allowed to open.  The proposal, if passed, would go into effect for 45 days while city staff works on putting together permanent zoning codes.

The conditional use permit would require a public hearing to decide whether the chain store is appropriate for downtown SC or not.

This proposal comes amid concerns among some San Carlos residents that the Peninsula's booming economy, and the increased development interest that has come along with it, could lead to the displacement of the mom-and-pop style shops that give downtown San Carlos its character.

The concerns aren't entirely unfounded - Plantation Coffee Roastery, First Impressions Salon and Mi Ranchita Restaurant have all been given a 90-day notice to vacate so the new owner of 652 Laurel Street, JMS Development, can carry out renovations.  JMS owns several other buildings on Laurel Street and leases to chains like Peet's Coffee and Paxti Pizza.

The San Carlos Chamber of Commerce has yet to take a formal stance on the issue.  Currently, chain stores do not trigger any greater review than independently owned businesses in downtown San Carlos.

UPDATE:  The city has unanimously approved the urgency ordinance requiring conditional use permits for 45 days as permanent zoning codes are hammered out.