CMG’s Mid Summer Deck Party

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Why Santa Rosa’s General Plan should NOT be amended for Sprouts.

We concur with Oliver’s Markets, Traverso’s, Pacific Market and Community Market that the General Plan as adopted by Santa Rosa should not be amended to allow a retail development at the corner of Mendocino and Bicentennial Parkway which would include a 30,000 square foot Sprouts natural foods store. Sprouts is an Arizona based company which would be taking direct market share from the above local stores, as the population in north Santa Rosa is not expected to increase significantly in the near future. These businesses all made decisions to locate where they are based on the General Plan in place, so changing the General Plan for an out of town developer and tenant would directly impact local businesses. And not just the businesses but the employees relying on tough to find jobs, many local suppliers of produce, meats, and other north coast food products.

Now don’t get us wrong, we are supportive of free market economics and competition. Whole Foods’ opening last fall in Coddingtown was a blow to all of these local businesses also, but it was allowed in the existing zoning underlying Coddingtown, so they had to fight to maintain market share after Whole Foods arrived. This is generally healthy as it weeds out inferior product and operations. There are many other existing retail locations Sprouts could consider in Santa Rosa where their use would be allowed under existing zoning. So lets stick with the General Plan adopted November 3, 2009, and allow the free market economy and competition to all play by the same rules. In particular, lets not change the General Plan for an out of town developer with an out of town tenant who will cause our existing locally owned businesses to suffer, or worse, fail.

Welcome!

Welcome to Commercial Management Group’s new blog page.