Amador County – The Plymouth City Council on Tuesday decided to ask for more information before deciding whether to approve a fee amendment for certain fast-food restaurants proposed by the Amador County Transportation Commission. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said it would have been the first “no” vote he has received from a member entity in the 7-year history of the ACTC, but instead of a rejection, the council deferred action, and directed staff to send letters of inquiry to the cities, commission board, and its chairman. The latter was attending Tuesday’s meeting: Plymouth Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin. Field said an amended Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) – creating lower fast food restaurant fees – had been approved by other cities, the ACTC board and the Amador County Board of Supervisors. But too many questions were not answered, said Mayor Pat Fordyce. And Councilman Jon Colburn said there was too much of a disparity between fees, which for a “stand alone” fast foot restaurant are $48,944 per 1000 square feet, and for an exempt fast food restaurant would be $18,240 per 1000 square feet. The exempt restaurants either share a building or are built in a strip mall, but also do not have a state highway frontage. Colburn said he thought McDonalds in Martell would not have had to pay the higher fee, but Field said it would because it has a parcel adjacent to Highway 49, and can advertise on the roadside and directly affect traffic flow. Baldwin voted “no” in an attempt by Fordyce, Colburn and Councilwoman Pat Shackleton to change the resolution amending the MOU. City attorney Laura Hollender said the council could only vote approval or disapproval of the resolution as worded, but could not change the wording. The council then voted 4-0 to rescind the action. Baldwin said city council members do not what fast-food-type restaurants in Plymouth, and one council member does not want growth at all. He said the city also would probably not get a restaurant of any kind built for at least a year. Baldwin said it was hindering a lot of hard work done by ACTC staff. Colburn said the MOU amendment directly aids Carl’s Junior and Martell, because it was crafted based on that restaurant’s “internal” traffic study, accompanying an appeal of the higher fee. Baldwin said the city council has discussed its Highway 49 “scenic corridor” through town, and agreed to not have a lot of ingress and egress, to have a buffer with side roads for development. He said the city council and planning commission should be able to handle specific issues in the city. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010 06:11
Plymouth Wants More Information On ACTC Fast Food Fee Reductions
Amador County – The Plymouth City Council on Tuesday decided to ask for more information before deciding whether to approve a fee amendment for certain fast-food restaurants proposed by the Amador County Transportation Commission. ACTC Executive Director Charles Field said it would have been the first “no” vote he has received from a member entity in the 7-year history of the ACTC, but instead of a rejection, the council deferred action, and directed staff to send letters of inquiry to the cities, commission board, and its chairman. The latter was attending Tuesday’s meeting: Plymouth Vice Mayor Greg Baldwin. Field said an amended Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) – creating lower fast food restaurant fees – had been approved by other cities, the ACTC board and the Amador County Board of Supervisors. But too many questions were not answered, said Mayor Pat Fordyce. And Councilman Jon Colburn said there was too much of a disparity between fees, which for a “stand alone” fast foot restaurant are $48,944 per 1000 square feet, and for an exempt fast food restaurant would be $18,240 per 1000 square feet. The exempt restaurants either share a building or are built in a strip mall, but also do not have a state highway frontage. Colburn said he thought McDonalds in Martell would not have had to pay the higher fee, but Field said it would because it has a parcel adjacent to Highway 49, and can advertise on the roadside and directly affect traffic flow. Baldwin voted “no” in an attempt by Fordyce, Colburn and Councilwoman Pat Shackleton to change the resolution amending the MOU. City attorney Laura Hollender said the council could only vote approval or disapproval of the resolution as worded, but could not change the wording. The council then voted 4-0 to rescind the action. Baldwin said city council members do not what fast-food-type restaurants in Plymouth, and one council member does not want growth at all. He said the city also would probably not get a restaurant of any kind built for at least a year. Baldwin said it was hindering a lot of hard work done by ACTC staff. Colburn said the MOU amendment directly aids Carl’s Junior and Martell, because it was crafted based on that restaurant’s “internal” traffic study, accompanying an appeal of the higher fee. Baldwin said the city council has discussed its Highway 49 “scenic corridor” through town, and agreed to not have a lot of ingress and egress, to have a buffer with side roads for development. He said the city council and planning commission should be able to handle specific issues in the city. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Latest from
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