Quincy reviews retail business moratorium

Meetings to expedite process

QUINCY - The retail business moratorium study continues in Quincy.

Councilmember Jim Hemberry provided an update of the moratorium at the council meeting Aug. 21.

The planning commission will meet every other Monday to expedite the moratorium issue and develop guidelines for incoming businesses, he said.

The commission is reviewing what other cities are doing about large retail businesses in excess of 80,000 square feet often referred to as "big box stores." The commission is trying to create guidelines for retail businesses to prevent them from leaving a large unusable building behind in the city if the business relocates, Hemberry said.

The commission plans to create guidelines for the design of the buildings so they can be used for another purpose, he added. The commission will redefine the meaning of "retail."

"I think the planning commission realized they had a lot of work to do," Hemberry said.

Hemberry, Councilmember Manuel Guerrero and Councilmember Tony Gonzalez will continue to attend the planning commission meetings to provide updates of the process during regular council meetings.

The moratorium will last up to 60 days from its establishment. Council unanimously reaffirmed the moratorium during a July 17 council meeting.

The moratorium was originally enacted because council had no guidelines for "big box stores" constructed in the city limits. The city is trying to maintain a uniform look for downtown business and do not want buildings that wouldn't fit in with the rest of the downtown area.

The moratorium can last up to six months if approved through a public hearing at the end of the 60-day period.