Staff Reportowx of MEETING DATE: 09/01/15
ITEM NO:
f
�Og GA`0
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: AUGUST 20, 2015
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LES WHITE, INTERIM TOWN MANAGER 0,v-
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION ON THE TOWN'S DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES FOR
FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL, AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction on the Town's definitions and policies for formula retail, specialty retail, and
outdoor seating.
BACKGROUND:
Los Gatos has long been known as a destination for locals and visitors alike to spend time shopping
and dining. In particular, Downtown Los Gatos is home to a vibrant mix of businesses including
local and national brands, independent retailers, and a variety of eating establishments that fit nearly
every culinary category. In recent times, the face of retail has changed dramatically with the
availability and ease of online shopping. Brick and mortar businesses are left with the challenge of
creating a unique experience for their shoppers that provides enough incentive to visit the physical
location and shop in person. In addition, the rise in the cost of living and doing business in Los
Gatos has played a role in the demographic shift in merchants and customers, the hours visitors are
in Downtown, and the products and experiences sought.
As businesses evolve and news business trends emerge, staff is often faced with hybrid business
models that do not fit within the Town's current policies and ordinances, causing frustration for
applicants, and a longer process as staff work to define such businesses. At its August 18, 2015
meeting, Town Council expressed interest in examining many of the regulations that pertain to
businesses looking to expand or locate in Los Gatos. While there are many elements to these
regulations, and all of them tend to relate with one another. As directed by Council, staff has
PREPARED BY: MONICA RENN fhoy fee
Economic Vitality Manager I WyI
Reviewed by: W Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Finance
NAMGR\AdminWorkFiles\2015 Council Reports \Sept 1\Fotmula and Specialty Retail Report and Attachements\Formula Retail. specialty Retail.
Outdoor seating TCReport.doc
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO TOWN STAFF REGARDING THE TOWN'S
DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES ON FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL,
AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
AUGUST 20, 2015
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
identified three main topics that can help guide this conversation and present options for the
Council's consideration.
The definitions, policies, and practices around Formula Retail, Specialty Retail, and Outdoor
Seating have long been issues raised by businesses through their operations and applications for
Conditional Use Permits (CUP). In addition, clarification has been requested by both the Town
Council at recent CUP hearings and the Policy Committee through their work on current Town
Policies.
As a result, staff is seeking Council direction on these topics, with an end goal of providing
clarification, transparency, and consistency related to Formula Retail, Specialty Retail, and Outdoor
Seating. Achieving these goals could improve the customer experience as businesses go through
various Town processes and contribute to the Town's economic vitality by having avenues to offer
greater business diversity. The latter directly addresses one of the Town's 2014 -2016 Strategic
Goals of developing a policy to ensure continued diversity of independent and national businesses
in the Downtown.
DISCUSSION:
Within this report, Formula Retail, Specialty Retail, and Outdoor Seating will be discussed
separately, although it should be noted that the crossover and connectivity between these topics is
pronounced, as well as the relationship between other retail regulations, policies, and practices.
Attachment 1 illustrates the relationship between these three topics, and includes other topics that
are directly related and/or affected by Formula Retail, Specialty Retail, and Outdoor Seating.
Formula Retail
Town Code section 29.10.020 defines Formula Retail businesses as those with more than seven
existing locations, also known as national brands or chain stores. The Town does not have a
separate adopted Formula Retail Policy, or an adopted rule of 80% independent to 20% Formula.
The Town Code requires a CUP for new Formula Retail businesses, regardless of size, to be located
within the Downtown/C -2 zone. In contrast, within other commercial zones, only those Formula
Retailers larger than 6,000 square feet must obtain a CUP.
The current definition provides a limited amount of detail for categorizing such a business and as a
result creates confusion for many prospective businesses. Staff has conducted best practice research
among other California cities that regulate Formula Retail businesses and found that while very few
jurisdictions enforce such regulations, those that do generally use similar criteria. Attachment 2
includes the Town's current definition of Formula Retail, and language that reflects the criteria
more widely used by other jurisdictions, providing options for the Town Council to consider as they
discuss Formula Retail regulations.
PAGE 3
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO TOWN STAFF REGARDING THE TOWN'S
DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES ON FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL,
AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
AUGUST 20, 2015
CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION (cont'd):
Within the best practice research conducted by staff, it was discovered that most jurisdictions have
an increased threshold of existing number of locations and where those locations exist (i.e. 10 or I 1
existing locations within the United States vs. the Town's threshold of more than seven locations
anywhere), and include restaurants under the Formula definition. These would also be elements of
the definition that staff recommends for Council's consideration.
Staff s research revealed that with the absence of any such protective policy, Downtowns often
experience attrition of independent retailers, as larger retailers are able to pay higher commercial
rents and offer longer lease term commitments. This information was notable to staff as it directly
speaks to the Town's own intent with the establishment of Formula Retail regulations and the desire
to protect and enhance the Downtown's business diversity as reflected in the aforementioned
Strategic Goal. For reference, Attachment 3 includes information on the Town's existing
Downtown Formula Retailers.
Specialty Retail
The Town currently has an administrative Specialty Retail Policy (Attachment 4) that was
implemented by a past Community Development Director allowing retailers selling "pre- packaged"
food items in a non - restaurant capacity to operate as a retailer, thus not requiring a Conditional Use
Permit. The policy permits businesses such as a bakery or whole bean coffee shop, although
specifically prohibits businesses selling ice cream or health drinks. This is out of date, confusing,
and in conflict with those businesses that are classified as a Specialty Retailer within our current
Traffic Impact Policy.
At a recent Town Council discussion on the Traffic Impact Policy, Town Council requested that
staff work on drafting suggestions that align the land use definition and traffic definition of this
business category allowing for a clearer and more cohesive process for potential businesses. The
Traffic Impact Policy defines such businesses as follows:
Walk -in, impulse businesses such as juice bars, coffee shops, yogurt shops and donut shops,
which do not serve meals as primary use, shall be considered Specialty Retail for purposes of
calculating new vehicle trips (Peak Hour and ADT).
Those businesses that the currently Town considers Specialty Retailers from a land use perspective
all provide food or beverages to the consumer, with the primary goal of off -site, or quick on- the -go
consumption. In addition, these retailers typically offer one type of food product with several
varietal choices. Confusion commences when a business comes forward as a Specialty Retailer and
is not listed on the policy but directly mimics one that is, or would like to offer their specialty food
item made to order. Direction is not always clear for these applicants.
PAGE 4
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO TOWN STAFF REGARDING THE TOWN'S
DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES ON FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL,
AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
AUGUST 20, 2015
DISCUSSION (cont'd):
For example the current policy would allow a bakery making bagels to be a specialty retailer,
however, once the retailer offers the option of adding condiments such as cream cheese or jam, the
retailer is now categorized as a restaurant. The current policy also prohibits any Specialty Retailer
from offering seats to their customers. Once seats are provided, regardless of the business model,
the Town Code currently defines the business use as a restaurant.
Staff has not recommended rescission of the Specialty Retail Policy to the Policy Committee to date
because with the absence of a Specialty Retail policy or a newly adopted Town Code definition, any
food establishment would be required to go through the CUP process as a restaurant. Instead, staff
seeks Council direction on possible alternatives to the attached Specialty Retail Policy, perhaps the
addition of a Town Code definition for Specialty Food Retail, calling out that the specialty items are
consumable. Staff has drafted one option of such a definition for the Council to discuss as a part of
Attachment 5.
Current economic trends are showing that online shopping is at an all -time high, thus many retailers
are seeking innovative ways to enhance the in -store customer experience. This is often achieved by
blending consumable products and gathering opportunities that cannot be offered to the online
customer, creating a whole new way of defining business and retail categories. Staff has
experienced an increased interest from current and prospective businesses of blending such business
models to create a fuller more enriched customer experience. As this is considered, requests have
increased for adding small quantities of seating, stand up counters or benches within businesses to
caterer to evolving consumer trends of specialty food on- the -go, or the enhanced retail experience.
For the Council's consideration, Attachment 5 also contains a chart of seating currently permitted in
restaurants based on parking space credit per Town Code; and, includes options for seating that
could be considered for a Specialty Food Retailer by square footage. It should be noted that
throughout staff s benchmarking, most jurisdictions do not limit seats in any restaurant, bar or food
based establishment based on parking space credits, rather use either square footage or the
restrictions set by the fire code to define the occupancy for eating establishments.
Another layer for consideration is that Specialty Retail is often defined or evolves from those uses
that are not defined within restaurant categories. This is a significant point in that how the Town
defines restaurant uses now or in the future could affect how Specialty Food Retail is defined.
There is a spectrum of options for the Council's consideration that range from only addressing
Specialty Retail to fully considering all restaurant use definitions and including a new definition for
Specialty Food Retail within the Town Code. While expansive, the latter would provide the
opportunity to align all of the definitions for continuity with one another, address seating both
indoors and out, and consider the categories used to define restaurant uses for traffic impact fee
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO TOWN STAFF REGARDING THE TOWN'S
DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES ON FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL,
AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
AUGUST 20, 2015
DISCUSSION (cont'd):
calculations. Given that this would be staffs recommendation, Attachment 6 contains both current
and draft definitions of restaurant uses for Council's discussion.
Outdoor Seating
At its August 4, 2015 Town Council meeting, the Council approved the rescission of an outdated
Outdoor Seating Policy, and may now wish to develop a new policy or guidelines for outdoor
seating. Currently, a restaurant with private outdoor space may apply through the Conditional Use
Permit process to have seating outdoors given that it remains out of the public right -of -way.
Outdoor seating is often requested by the business community as a way to enhance the customer
experience given the desirable climate and views experienced in Los Gatos. Many of the Town's
sidewalks are not currently wide enough to allow for the addition of seats while maintaining an
appropriate amount of public access.
Currently, the Town Code restricts use of public right -of -way and addressed encroachment permits
in section 23.30.005, and commercial use of the public right -of -way in section 29.50.020. In
addition to determining if the outdoor area that may be used, a CUP also regulates the total number
of seats allowed in an outdoor space, as well as the types, sizes, and placement of outdoor furniture
in some cases.
Outdoor Seating that is permitted by a CUP in a restaurant is considered in the overall total number
of seats allowed, and is calculated based on the type of restaurant and zoning using a ratio of seats
per parking space credited to the location. In the Downtown, the total number of seats allowed in a
restaurant is calculated as follows:
• Restaurants without a separate bar: 4 seats per parking space credit
• Restaurants with a separate bar: 3 seats per parking space credit
• Bars, taverns, and nightclubs: 3 seats per parking space credit
As with Formula Retail and Specialty Retail, the discussion of outdoor seats often leads to other
business related topics, such as overall seating capacity and calculation methods, parking, and
definitions of restaurant uses, as shown in Attachment 1.
CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION:
While three different topics are being highlighted in this report, each directly affects the other, and
overlaps with other business related polices and ordinances. Taking this opportunity to look at
these elements and those related to them comprehensively could allow for a greatly improved
customer experience through clarity, continuity and business use opportunity.
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO TOWN STAFF REGARDING THE TOWN'S
DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES ON FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL,
AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
AUGUST 20, 2015
CONCLUSION AND RECCOMENDATION (cont'd):
Staff recommends that the Town Council consider the all of the components for permitting
businesses that are outlined in this report, both primary and secondary, and direct modifications
that allow Los Gatos businesses to better compete with neighboring jurisdictions, experience an
improved permitting process, and increase their own customers' experiences, ultimately creating the
opportunity for a more diverse and vibrant business community.
Because of the complexity and number of issues addressed within this report, staff has proactively
drafted suggestions for each of the elements outlined in this report, and included existing
regulations to give the Town Council a starting point for the discussion. Council may wish to
structure the discussion using the following guide:
• Formula Retail
• Consider the original intent of the Formula Retail Policy and if it is still the desire of
the Council to maintain this provision on businesses, noting the currently Formula
Retailers are not prohibited or discouraged, rather regulated through the CUP process
depending on size and desired location.
• Consider the draft definition that reflects best practice research, including the
addition of restaurants, limiting the locations under consideration to the United
States, and increasing the threshold to 10 existing locations.
Specialty Retail
• Consider the intent of having provisions for a Specialty Food Retailer that allow for
a food use that is not a restaurant.
• Consider the Traffic Impact Policy's definition of an "impulse business" as a guide
for the Town's own Specialty Food Retail use definition. Draft definition is
contained in Attachment 4.
• Consider allowing limited seats at a Specialty Food Retailer
• Consider amending all food use /restaurant use definitions to allow for clarity and
continuity with one another.
Outdoor Seating
• Consider guidelines for outdoor seating including the use of public right -of -way and
private property.
• Consider mechanisms for permitting outdoor seating on both a temporary and
ongoing basis.
• Consider how the number of outdoor seats is calculated and if it should be a part of
the total seats allowed in a restaurant, or if additional seats can be permitted if
outdoor space exists.
• Consider how all seat capacities are calculated and if this should be amended to
reflect the benchmarking of other jurisdictions whom mostly use square footage,
floor area or fire code to guide seating limits.
PAGE 7
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO TOWN STAFF REGARDING THE TOWN'S
DEFINITIONS AND POLICIES ON FORMULA RETAIL, SPECIALTY RETAIL,
AND OUTDOOR SEATING.
AUGUST 20, 2015
COORDINATION:
This staff report was written in coordination with the Town Manager's Office and Community
Development Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Illustration of relationship between the regulations that affect business uses
2. Formula Retail: current definition and recommended amendments
3. List of current Formula Retailers in the Downtown
4. Specialty Retail Administrative Policy
5. Recommendation for Specialty Food Retail definition and seating ratio calculations
6. Current Restaurant Use definitions and recommendations for amendments
DISCUSSION POINTS & RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESS REGULATIONS
• Identify specific characteristics to define Formula
CROSSOVER DISCUSSION
Retail, considering best practices:
• Number of existing locations
• Locations of existing retail locations (US vs.
• Seat regulations:
Worldwide)
o Types of businesses allowed to have
• Extending the regulation to include all
seats
commercial retail including restaurants and
o Calculation of seats based on
specialty retailers.
parking, square footage, or fire
• C2 zone vs other commercial zones
occupancy code.
o Placement of seats (indoor vs
outdoor)
o Non -food establishments looking for
ancillary seating /gathering
• Compare all definitions for consistency and clarity:
opportunities
o Specialty Food Retailers
• Consider the consistency and clarity in
o Restaurant uses
all Formula Retail, Specialty Food Retail
• Consider Traffic Impact Policy definition of "Impulse
and Restaurant use definitions
Businesses"
• Hybrid businesses
• Should there be a consideration for Specialty Food
o How to define hybrid businesses
Retail with alcohol service?
now and moving forward in the
• Should limited seats be allowed in a Specialty Food
absence of a defined use category
Retailer?
• Plan for applying any changes that may
• Number of Seats: Calculations based on
lessen regulations on implemented
parking or Square footage
cups.
• Types of seats: benches, stand up counters, or
o Grouping CUP modifications
other quick resting points.
• Consider the placement of seats:
• Private /Commercial property
• Rooftop or patio seating
• Use of public right -of -way
• Temporary (Parklets or seasonal)
• Ongoing use
• Consider permitting the use of public right -of -way:
• Encroachment permits (temporary )
• CUP (on going use)
o Other mechanism
• Implement barriers for ABC if alcohol service is present
• Calculating outdoor seating- Should it be a part of the
total seat count?
• Should the way we calculate total seat be modified?
• Consider trends in communal dining and gathering:
o Communal Seating (benches, couches, etc.)
o Individual seats
ATTACHMENT 1
CURRENT FORMULA RETAIL DEFINITION
AND RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS
CURRENT DEFINITION:
Formula retail business means a retail business which, along with seven (7) or more business
locations, is required by contractual or other arrangement to maintain any of the following:
standardized merchandise, services decor, uniforms, architecture, colors, signs or other similar
features.
PROPOSED DEFINITION:
Formula Retail Businesses are defined as a type of retail sales establishment or restaurant which, along
with 10 or more other retail sales establishments located in the United States, maintains two or more of
the following features: a standardized array of merchandise or menu, a standardized facade, a
standardized decor and color scheme, a uniform apparel, standardized signage, a standardized layout, a
trademark or a servicemark.
1. Standardized means both identical and substantially the same.
2. Array of merchandise or menu shall be defined as 50% or more of in -stock merchandise or menu
items.
3. Fa9ade shall be defined as the face or front of a building, including awnings, looking onto a street
or an open space.
4. Decor shall be defined as the style of interior finishings, which may include but is not limited to,
style of furniture, wallcoverings or permanent fixtures.
5. Color Scheme shall be defined as selection of colors used throughout, such as on the furnishings,
permanent fixtures, and wallcoverings, or as used on the facade.
6. Uniform Apparel shall be defined as standardized items of clothing including but not limited to
standardized aprons, pants, shirts, smocks or dresses, hat, and pins (other than name tags) as well
as standardized colors of clothing.
7. Signage shall be defined as business signs pursuant to section 29.10.135 of the Town Code.
8. Trademark shall be defined as a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words,
phrases, symbols or designs that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods from one
party from those of others.
9. Servicemark shall be defined as word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words,
phrases, symbols or designs that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service from one
party from those of others.
ATTACHMENT
Formula Retailers in Downtown Los Gatos
Gymboree
5 N. Santa Cruz
Benefit Cosemetics
7 N. Santa Cruz
Apple Store
23 N. Santa Cruz
Restoration Hardware
26 N. Santa Cruz
Powell's Sweet Shoppe
35 N. Santa Cruz
Verizon Wireless
50 N. Santa Cruz
Site for Sore Eyes
53 N. Santa Cruz
Pharmaca
54 N. Santa Cruz
J. Crew
105 N. Santa Cruz
We Olive
112 N. Santa Cruz
Willams Sonoma
122 N. Santa Cruz
Bellini Furniture
155 N. Santa Cruz
Mike's Bikes
201 N. Santa Cruz
Title Nine
218 N. Santa Cruz
California Closets
349 N. Santa Cruz
Rural Supply
110 S. Santa Cruz
Joseph A. Bank
150 W. Main Street
Sur La Table
23 University Ave.
Banana Republic
25 University Ave.
Francesca's Collection
29 University Ave.
GAP
35 University Ave.
White House /Black Market
50 University Ave.
Blue Illusion
50 University Ave.
Papyrus
50 University Ave.
Talbots
50 University Ave.
Anthropologie
50 University Ave.
Lucy Activewear
50 University Ave.
Chicos
50 University Ave.
*Formula retailers currently represent approximately 10% of the tenant in the C -2 zone.
ATTACHMENT 3
Formula Retailers in Downtown Los Gatos
PLANNING DEPARTMENT POLICY
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
Subject Description of Restaurants and Specialty Retail Businesses That Offer Food Products
Page: Section Number:
Approved: Z_ L Effective Date: Revised Date:
Lee E. Bowman, Planning Director August 1, 1996
PURPOSE
To provide guidelines for determining whether a business serving food products is specialty retail or
restaurant.
I ;W*YA
It is best to obtain a written description of a proposed business from the applicant to provide a "paper trail' and
avoid possible misunderstanding. If a proposed business is not described below staff shall obtain a written
description of a proposed business from the applicant so the Planning Director may make the final
determination.
Specialty Retail - Specialty Retail include those businesses which offer pre - packaged foods (e.g, pre -made
sandwiches, candy, donuts and other bakery items, frozen pizza to go, bagels without condiments, etc.). No
seating for customers is allowed in any business where food products are sold.
Restaurant - A definition of restaurant is contained in the Zoning Ordinance (§ 29.10.020). Restaurants
include those businesses offering food or drinks that are ordered by a customer and prepared while the
customer waits (e.g. bagels with condiments, gourmet coffee shops (except sales of whole bean or ground
coffee), sandwiches, ice cream, yogurt, pizza or Chinese to -go, health drinks, etc.). Any business that sells
food products and offers seating for customers is considered a restaurant.
WMEMUDWOUCY,
ATTACHMENT
SEATING CHART CALCULATIONS BASED ON SQUARE FOOTAGE
RECOMMENDATION:
Specialty Food Retail businesses are defined as a business providing a specialty food or
beverage intended for off -site consumption. Specialty food retail uses typically have few types
of items, but often offer a variety of options within the single item type. Items are paid for
before consumption and include uses such as juice bars, frozen dessert shops, coffee /tea shops,
bagel/donut shops, bakeries, sandwiches, and similar uses. Specialty Retail locations are subject
to formula retail use restrictions and may not offer more than 1 seat per 2001250 square feet of
gross floor area.
SEAT CALCULATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
ATTACHMENTS
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SPECIALTY
SPECIALTY
SPECIALTY
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_
SE:1TS
FOOD RETAIL,
FOOD RETAIL,
FOOD RETAIL,
LO�VFD IN C'_
ALLOWED -
SEATS TO
SEATS TO
SEATS TO
7750;
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OUTSIllEOF.c
CONSIDER AT
CONSIDER AT
CONSIDER AT
1 PER 200 SF
1 PER 250 SF
1 PER 300 SF
6_7
6.4
2_5
2_0
1.7
10.0
9.6
3.8
3.0
2.5
1000
13.3
12.8
5_0
4_0
3.3
1250
16.7
16.0
6_3
5_0
4.2
1500
20.0
19.1
7_5
6_0
5.0
2000
26.7
25.5
10.0
8.0
6.7
2250
30.0
28.7
11.3
9_0
7.5
2500
33.3
31.9
12.5
10.0
8.3
2750
36.7
35.1
13.8
11.0
9.2
3000
40.0
38.3
15.0
12.0
10.0
3500
46.7
44.7
17.5
14.0
11.7
4000
53.3
51.1
20.0
16.0
13.3
ATTACHMENTS
CURRENT RESTAURANT USE DEFINITIONS
AND RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS
CURRENT USE DEFINITIONS:
Sec. 29.10.020. - Definitions.
Restaurant means a retail food service establishment in which food or beverage is prepared,
served and sold to customers for on -site or take -out consumption.
Restaurant, drive -in means a restaurant where food or beverages are sold to be eaten in vehicles
whether on or off the premises or are delivered directly to the occupants of vehicles.
Restaurant, fast food means a restaurant with a large carry -out clientele, long hours of service,
some open for breakfast but all open for lunch and dinner, and high turnover rates for eat -in
customers.
Restaurant, high turnover (sit -down) means a restaurant with turnover rates generally of less than
one (1) hour, is usually moderately prices and frequently belong to a restaurant chain, generally
service breakfast, lunch and dinner, and are sometimes open twenty -four (24) hours a day.
Restaurant (minor) means any restaurant that satisfies the following criteria:
(1) Provides less than 25 seats;
(2) Serves no alcoholic beverages;
(3) Proposes no significant exterior changes that would alter the architectural character
of the building; and
(4) Provides a net increase of less than five peak hour traffic trips.
Restaurant, quality means a restaurant of high quality and with turnover rates usually of at
least one (1) hour or longer, generally do not serve breakfast, may not serve lunch, but always
serve dinner.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS FOR RESTAURANT USE DEFINITIONS
Restaurant means a retail food service establishment in which full meals are available,
prepared, served, and sold to customers for on -site or take -out consumption, and provide indoor
and/or outdoor seating.
Restaurant with Alcohol Service means any restaurant where alcohol is available to customers
during meal service, or while waiting for a table for meal service, and in designated bar and food
service area while meal service is available. Restaurants with alcohol service typically do not
provide late night entertainment.
Restaurant, minor means any restaurant that satisfies the following criteria:
1. Provides less than 25 seats;
2. Serves no alcoholic beverages;
ATTACHMENT 6
3. Proposes no significant exterior changes that would alter the architectural character of the
building; and
4. Provides a net increase of less than five peak hour traffic trips.
Restaurant, drive -in means a restaurant where food and/or beverages are sold to be eaten in
vehicles whether on or off the premises or are delivered directly to the occupants of vehicles.
Restaurant, fast food means a restaurant providing ready to eat meals to a high volume of
largely carry-out clientele with long hours of service. Some open for breakfast but all open for
lunch and dinner, food is available upon a short waiting time, and the turnover rate for dine -in
customers is typically very high.
Restaurant, high- turnover sit down means a restaurant which provides full meals to customers
in a casual setting with turnover rates typically less than an hour. Orders may be taken at a
counter or table -side, and the primary focus of the restaurant is onsite dining though take out
may be available.
Restaurant, full- service sit down means a restaurant which provides full service meals, where
customers order and are served at their table. Characteristics typical of a full- service sit down
restaurant include: Turnover rates greater than an hour; the availability of reservations; limited
take out business; most do not serve breakfast, some do not serve lunch, and all serve the
majority of their clients for dinner; most offer menu options that change regularly with the
season or chef s preference.