I live in Mountain Brook Co-op, across the street from the Jack in the Box project in Scotts Valley, and I oppose this project for many reasons.
In our neighborhood, we already deal with clearing brush and weeds quarterly on city property that runs along our property (because the city will not do it); constant trash pickup (usually bearing the logos of Wendy’s and Starbucks Coffee) along the seasonal creek outside our park; the loud and rattling noise of an overburdened water treatment station at the northeast end of the Best Western; the unofficial truck stop that the 6000 block becomes for the unloading and reloading of big rigs that are not allowed anywhere else on Scotts Valley Drive (Canepa, moving companies, Sysco, etc.); intermittent nighttime illegal drag-racing; and speeding vehicles, mostly to and from Bethany University.
Add to this a Jack in the Box, and there will be more noise and trash and problems.
It’s hard not to put a socioeconomic spin on this, but it’s there. A privileged, planned community can keep out a Target, but if a Jack in the Box wants to come into to town across the street from a trailer park, then it will happen.
In a small town dealing with our own obesity epidemic and health issues, do we really need another fast-food chain? Are we compromising the health of our children for revenue? Does anyone care that this Jack’s will be a stone’s throw from Vine Hill Elementary?
Yes, the onion rings and the commercials are brilliant, but it’s not worth it. Why can’t the city try and attract a healthy restaurant? Or, better yet, pop up all the asphalt and let’s start a community garden project with a café — the building is already there! There are many successful models for such programs through out the Bay Area. I’ll volunteer.
Please, please, please — no Jack in the Box.
All restaurants fall within a discretionary permitting process, due to their often unpredictable parking, circulation (such as drive throughs), and odor issues. Even in the shopping center zoning (the most liberal for all things retail), restaurants are a conditional use. So the council has discretion. But they are well-advised to use it to regulate on issues that are real rather than ideological. For example, they could deny a restaurant with a track record of stinking up a neighborhood if the proposed location was close to residents. But they couldn't (shouldn't, actually) deny one because their food is unhealthy.
That could change if the city adopted some kind of ordinance related to being a healthy city. But that would probably sack some of the council's favorite restaurants, so don't hold your breath.
SV residents will get the last laugh then.
Government doesn't have the ability to decide what stores/restaurants are good enough to move into town, or to decide that the community has too much of a certain thing, etc. The city can't pass a law that says, we have enough coffee shops or fast food or anything like that."
Apparently our City Council believes differently. Both Dene Bustichi and Randy Johnson have stated during City Council meetings that they would not approve another hardware store in Scotts Valley. In fact the City council several years ago rejected a proposal for a hardware store at the location where a Target was recently proposed.
Government doesn't have the ability to decide what stores/restaurants are good enough to move into town, or to decide that the community has too much of a certain thing, etc. The city can't pass a law that says, we have enough coffee shops or fast food or anything like that. It can set zoning guidelines of what's acceptible, approve building exteriors and other details, but that's pretty much it. That parcel is zoned to allow for a use like a food establishment. The city couldn't stop Jack from coming in even if it wanted to.
The parcel Target looked at would have required several exceptions to the city's zoning and land use regs. That is why the city had/has discretion on the Target project but does not on Jack-in-the-Box.
I am sorry you feel my fine restaurant is wrong for your trailer park neighborhood.
I have noticed that my competition, The King, has his place by a trailer park in your community.
I have looked at the numbers and many trailer park residents enjoy my Jumbo Jacks , fries, and shakes.
In this economy, most trailer park residents are struggling to afford lobster, sushi and prime rib.
I am giving them an option, Empty calories, sugar and fat at low affordable prices.
I will be hiring for many exciting positions with career advancement potential and anyone who lives in the trailer park who is unemployed is encouraged to apply.
I'm looking forward to being a part of your community and contributing to Scott's Valley's burgeoning fast food economy.
Contact me with your concerns @ http://office.jackinthebox.com/