By Khalida Sarwari
The Saratoga City Council is taking the first step toward defining which establishments constitute a market within the city’s zoning code following months of deliberation by the planning commission.
After going to work on the definition in October, the planning commission has come up with a recommendation that the council will vote upon on Jan. 16.
The proposed definition is “an establishment which sells or offers for sale to the public any food or drink for human consumption off-site, with the exception of a tasting room … or a lawfully located mobile canteen or other mobile unit.”
According to the city, tasting rooms are defined as “a commercial establishment that does not contain a kitchen and is devoted to the sampling, consumption and sales of wine or beer produced on or off the premises.”
The city council will consider the first reading of the ordinance following a hearing to receive input from the public. If approved, a second reading of the ordinance will take place sometime in early February, said James Lindsay, Saratoga’s community development director.
Businesses must abide by specific regulations set by zoning districts, Lindsay said. Some are allowed to operate without a conditional-use permit, while others are required to receive approval of a permit from the city.
Markets such as Target are an example of an establishment that does require such a permit in all commercial zoning districts, but up until now there was no definition to distinguish a market from a retail store. So in October, council members asked the planning commission to look into the distinction between the two.
The commission held a study session in November during which members discussed different approaches for defining markets and distinguishing them from retail stores. It was generally agreed that a definition of market should include the sale of all food items sold for off-site consumption. A public hearing was held by the commission in December to receive the public’s input, said Lindsay.
The final public hearing will take place on Jan. 16 beginning at 7 p.m. in the city council chamber at 13777 Fruitvale Ave. in Saratoga.
Saratoga City Council will consider definition of ‘market’ for zoning code
