Economic development focus of Vallejo council By Jessica A. York / TimesHerald staff writer The Vallejo City Council took several steps Tuesday night aimed at improving the city’s economic development efforts. The council voted unanimously to reduce both city permitting demands for certain new small scale “quick-food” eating establishments citywide. The council also voted to allow businesses to apply to hold large-scale gatherings and banquets along the city waterfront. The zoning update for the waterfront areas, spanning property near the city’s Ferry Building, the Glen Cove Marina and near Wilson Avenue, received some resistance from Vallejo Heights residents. They wanted to avoid development between River Park, on Mare Island Way, and Highway 37. In particular, several speakers feared banquet halltype development would negatively impact the nearby wetlands and animal life. Speaker Richard Underwood, representing a group calling itself Friends of River Park, asked in vain that the council separate the River Park-area land from other waterfront lands. Realtor Johnny Walker disagreed about the likelihood of a developer securing a major use permit — requiring public scrutiny and Planning Commission oversight — to build in that area. Walker also commended the city in moving forward on several recent efforts to promote economic development in the city. Glen Cove Marina owner Nima Gabbay, whose request to host banquets at his marina lighthouse sparked the city zoning update, asked that no more distractions extend what has already been a twoyear process. Hosting upscale weddings and banquet events, Gabbay said, would be a way to introduce people to Vallejo in a positive light and would offer ancillary benefit to associated businesses elsewhere in town. The council also voted to set a 16-hour period for which monthly city parking passes may be used without incurring additional fees. Vallejo’s waterfront parking structure and nearby surface parking lots will begin charging Aug. 1, coinciding with 2hour parking limits for short-term spaces. The 16hour daily parking limit will be confined to the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., due to limitations of the city’s license plate recognition technology. Contact staff writer Jessica A. York at (707) 553-6834 or jyork@timesheraldonline. Follow her on Twitter @JYVallejo.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 14:30:49 +0000
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