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Council Members, Adams, Gadus, Komives, Whitman and Williams
Title
Declaring a Moratorium until June 1, 2021, on the review and issuance of any zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy, or other licenses or permits for Small Box Discount Stores in the City of Toledo; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Ordinance 166-20 establishing a moratorium on the review and issuance of zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy and other licenses or permits for Small Box Discount Stores along Dorr St. between Collingwood and Parkside expired on December 31, 2020. A "Small Box Discount Store" is considered and defined as a store with a floor area less than 15,000 square feet that offers food or beverages for off-premises consumption, household products, personal grooming and heath products, and other consumer goods. It does not include stores that contain a prescription pharmacy, sell gasoline or diesel, primarily sell specialty food items or dedicate at least 15% of their floor area to fresh foods and vegetables.
Toledo City Council initiated a study by the Toledo City Plan Commission to research the history of Small Box Discount Stores in Toledo, to examine the secondary effects that they have on city residents and city neighborhoods, and evaluate best practices for their regulation in other cities.
The study looked into the impact of the proliferation of Small Box Discount Stores on the public health and safety of surrounding neighborhoods. The study concluded that there are multiple secondary effects of small box discount stores, the best-documented being their contribution to food deserts, leading to poor diets and higher levels of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The prevalence of small box discount stores leads to closures of neighborhood grocery stores, further limiting the availability of healthy food options.
Additionally, it was determined that Small Box Discount Stores pose site developme...
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