FORT BRAGG, 6/6/23 — The plan to build a Grocery Outlet store at the end of South Franklin Street in Fort Bragg was approved by a 4-0 vote at a special one-item City Council meeting Monday night. The Environmental Impact Report was approved by a 3-1 vote at the same meeting. Appealing to the California Coastal Commission remains a possibility.

The vote was 4-0 because Mayor Bernie Novell recused himself as he lives near the proposed store site (he did not attend the meeting). Councilmember Tess Albin Smith dissented on the first vote of the night about the EIR but did approve Grocery Outlet obtaining a Coastal Development Permit from the city. The meeting lasted four hours, and the council discussed two dozen conditions staff recommended for the approval, related to traffic, tree-planting and species selection, a requirement for a generator and many more.

The speakers, split between highly motivated supporters of the chain and less enthusiastic critics, were polite. Despite worries the dispute could boil over, the last two meetings on Grocery Outlet were conciliatory in tone by both sides. Two speakers, novices to zoning and planning, were outraged that the city would dare ask anything of a business. Many speakers had suggestions for the chain, such as that the store pledge not to use automated checkers. Another popular idea was for the company to pay for the installation of a covered bus stop. More bike racks were also pushed.

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