Amador County – The Amador County General Plan Update panel on Wednesday debated whether to require a fiscal impact analysis, or only to say it “may be required.” Jackson activist Kathy Allen said it should be required of “nationally owned chains.” Supervisor Chairman Ted Novelli asked her if a car dealership, specifically GMC, wanted to locate here, “would you object to their being here?” Allen said: “No, I would object to them not doing a fiscal impact study.” And she said “manufacturing is pure profit,” but retail is a different story. Supervisor Richard Forster said a local tire store owner told him he was not worried about national tire chains coming to the area, saying he supports the community and the community supports his business. Forster said: “If mom & pop (stores) are doing their job right, when the big-box store comes, they will survive.” Art Marinaccio of Amador Citizens For Responsible Government, said Allen’s words “constitute an illegal restraint of trade.” He said cases upheld up in court showed areas aimed to “protect our mom & pop” stores, but the wording must be “very specific” what they want to protect. Commissioner Ray Ryan said a blanket requirement for all national chains was flawed, because if companies cannot deliver, customers will not frequent those businesses. Allen said she wanted to protect local businesses, and Ryan said they “don’t want to put up a road block,” because then businesses would set up shop across the county line. Commissioner Dave Wardall said certain building products are “$45 dollars a foot in Amador County and $10 dollars a foot in Bakersfield.” Similarly, people travel to the Sacramento area for cheaper prices. Wardall said we “need big box stores, or you are going to lose sales tax to Folsom.” Commissioner Andy Byrne said if they require a fiscal impact report, “supervisors can always waive it.” He said the planning commission, including each individual commissioner, asked for a fiscal impact study of the Home Depot that was working to locate in Jackson. Forster said language saying the fiscal study “may be required” would “allow the commission to seek that.” Supervisor John Plasse said the word “may” was not the key word, rather “require” was the key, and he supported the combination. Supervisor Louis Boitano said it was “probably the way to go.” The joint panel reconvenes July 8th to consider including a water sub-element in the economic element. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.