Label
Plan Commission Study: Healthy Food Overlay
City Council
Councilmembers Jones, Hartman, Gadus
Title
Submitting to the Toledo City Plan Commission a request to conduct a study for the purpose of creating a healthy food overlay, the harmful impacts of food deserts and Small-Box Stores, and other steps to incentivize businesses that provide healthy food to establish in areas that are currently designated as food deserts; a review of proposed text amendments to Toledo Municipal Code Sections 1103 authorizing a public hearing on said text amendments and publication of said hearing; and declaring an emergency.
Summary
WHEREAS, Toledo City Council is initiating a study by the Toledo City Plan Commission to research food deserts and the potential for a healthy food overlay, the history and future establishment of Small Box Discount Stores, and to examine the secondary effects that they have on city residents and city neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, The City’s Plan Commission previously studied this issue and found that Small Box Discount Stores did merit further zoning regulations given the negative secondary effects uncovered in Plan Commission’s study. Council did not act on the prior study within the time limitations that would have allowed the prior study to be taken out of committee and acted upon now. Moreover, new developments may have arisen that a new study could address; and
WHEREAS, The City’s Plan Commission is, therefore, requested to study a possible text amendment to address food deserts and Small-Box Stores in Toledo and incentivize the establishment of healthy produce providers to overcome the harmful impacts of food deserts.
NOW THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. The Plan Commission is hereby directed to conduct a study for the purpose of identifying a text amendment to the zoning code to address the harmful impacts of food deserts and Small-Box Stores, the potential for a healthy food overlay, and other steps to incentivize businesses that provide healthy food to establish in areas that are currently designated as food deserts.
SECTION 2. That the request for proposed text amendments is hereby referred to the Toledo City Plan Commission for its review, recommendation and appropriate hearing date. That a public hearing upon a proposed ordinance to effectuate the above described change shall be held in the Council Chambers at One Government Center and the Clerk of Council is hereby authorized and directed to give notice of the time and place of said hearing in the manner required by the law.
SECTION 3. That this Resolution hereby is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force immediately from and after its adoption. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property; and for the further reason that this Resolution must be immediately effective so that the text amendments can be expeditiously forwarded to the Toledo City Plan Commission so the proper time may be committed to a full review of the proposed text amendments.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Adopted: December 4, 2024, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Carrie Hartman
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: December 4, 2024
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor