After an emotional two-hour debate, the Council voted to repeal much of an existing ordinance that required superstores hoping to open in the city to complete an economic analysis.
“This ordinance, in many people’s perspective, has not functioned as it was intended,” said Councilmember Steve Hansen. He argued the city is losing sales tax revenue becuase of the restrictions. “These stores – we live in a region with many cities that surround us, and many counties – they build right on our border.”
But opponents, like resident Michael Murphy, argue the change will hurt small businesses. “In all my years of living in Sacramento, I’ve never been as disappointed as I am today to call myself a Sacramentan. This is just a horrible, horrible step backwards.”
Under the change, the economic studies will no longer be required in major planned developments, or for superstores looking to locate in so-called “food deserts,” where there is limited access to groceries. Certain expansions will also be exempt.
Watch the City Council debate
here.
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