From: Nolthenius, Erik To: Drummond, April Cc: Hill, Debbie Subject: FW: BRENTWOOD DOES NOT NEED A GROCERY OUTLET Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:59:11 AM
FYI
From: Grindall, Terrence
Mr. Carrasasco,
I am responding to an email that was forwarded to me regarding your objections to a business leasing a space at a Brentwood Blvd shopping center. I am tasked with the City’s Economic Development efforts.
Thank you for your thoughtful email and your concern for the improvement of Brentwood. While we share your aspirations for higher end retailers, the simple fact is: this is a privately owned development and the City of Brentwood does not have control over the particular brand of permitted use that leases a space. Our regulatory authority does not extend to what tenant leases space- it covers only the actual use.
We do focus our attraction efforts on aspirational brands and encourage higher end stores, be we can only encourage/inform, not dictate. The private owner can sell or rent to the business they think provides them the best economic return. The City cannot legally distinguish between chains of stores or brand types. It would be illegal to deny a permit based on any other factor than those contained in the City’s zoning ordinances, general plan or State law. In this case, we cannot deny a business and developer with a proposed permitted use in order to favor another brand.
Supermarkets and grocery stores are permitted uses within Sciortino Ranch (technically known as Planned Development – 55). The City has a role of maintaining and permitting orderly development consistent with local and state law. Through various land use regulations and development standards, the City ensures that all new commercial development is built to a high quality consistently across our community. We must consistently require the same high level of physical development standards for all new commercial development including Sciortino Ranch.
Brentwood’s Economic Development Division is actively working with corporate representatives of desired retailers and grocers to bring businesses to Brentwood. While we can talk the them, businesses only actually come to a community after intensive market research and analysis based on THEIR economic models. While Economic Development does assist retailers with connecting the dots in our community and advocates on behalf of our Brentwood residents, we cannot force a business to locate in a certain location. Businesses locate based on available land, properties and a variety of demographic and economic data that best suits their own models. Each retailer’s requirements for the market and site is different. Each person’s demand for goods and experiences is different, some people shop based on experience and selection- even if prices are higher- and others shop based primarily on price and convenience. While you may not have interest shopping at a particular businesses, others will- that is why there is a diversity of businesses in the marketplace. This diversity is a healthy part of our free market economy.
I am sorry that you are disappointed it the decision that private entities have made, but as I stated above, this decision is not within the City’s purview.
I hope this information is helpful and please contact me if you need more information.
Terrence Grindall Assistant City Manager Brentwood California D: 925-516-5181
From: carrascodude < > Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2020 15:31 To: =yCouncil Members
Hello, I am sending my note below to all of you as well. I sincerely hope that together the appropriate and best decision for the great city of Brentwood will be made. Thank you, Robert Carrasco
------Forwarded message ------From: carrascodude < > Date: Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 2:50 PM Subject: BRENTWOOD DOES NOT NEED A GROCERY OUTLET To:
Dear Debbie Hill and City of Brentwood Planning Division,
I recently learned that the city of Brentwood is considering an application to open a Grocery Outlet in Brentwood near Brentwood Boulevard and Sand Creek Road. Brentwood does not need a Grocery Outlet in the city. We have several grocery stores on Sand Creek already and if we want to shop at a Grocery Outlet, we need travel but a short distance to Oakley or Antioch; both cities have a Grocery Outlet.
Having spoken to and communicated with many Brentwood residents and neighbors, the consensus is that an additional supermarket will be needed as the city continues to grow. However, the type of market that would add to the city’s ambiance and charm is NOT a Grocery Outlet which, to my knowledge, provides no health or other benefits for its employees. The city should be looking at something like Lunardi’s Markets.
Lunardi’s Markets is family-owned and run by Paul Lunardi, son of founder Alfred Lunardi. Lunardi’s is known for having some of the largest cheese and wine selections, stocking everyday favorites as well as rare, hard-to-find cheeses and wine
From: Hill, Debb e To: Drummond, Apr l Subject: FW: DR 20-004 - Grocery Outlet/Grocery Store Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:49:31 AM
From: Sinziana Todor Sent: Tuesday June 2 2020 4 20 PM To: Hill Debbie
Thank you so much for clarification. Originally the project name on the website said Grocery Outlet and I would have been opposed to that store coming in Brentwood, since we have so many discount grocery stores already.
Do you know who I can contact from the planning commission or the city in general to stand up an effort to bring a higher end grocery store in Brentwood? There is a high interest in Whole Foods, or another high end grocery store in the area, as you can see on this informal poll I started on Next Door.
Thank you again for getting back to me!
Sinziana Todor
On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, 03:59:49 PM PDT, Hill, Debbie
From: Hill, Debbie To: Drummond, April Subject: FW: Grocery outlet market Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:48:05 AM
From: Liz Harris > Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2020 10:47 PM To: Hill, Debbie
Hi,
I understand a Grocery Outlet Market is on the planning board for the area at Sand Creek and Brentwood Blvd.
I want to voice my family’s opposition to this business. We do not need anymore low income / discount type stores like this (or any more dollar store types!). This type of grocery store does not represent the type of city we want to be. Our goals should be higher.
The more of these discount type stores we allow in, the less likely we will ever attract any higher end stores and we will forever become another Antioch/Oakley.
At one time I thought our goal was to pattern quaint towns such as Danville, Pleasanton, etc? What is happening to our town? Better not to build anything else.
Thank you
Elizabeth Harris Brentwood
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Hill Debbie To: Drummond, April Subject: FW: Grocery Outlet store coming to Brentwood? Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:50:21 AM
From: Sinziana Todor > Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 5:33 PM To: =yCouncil Members
Hello,
I am writing this email with deep disappointment!
For the past week I was trying to find out from Planning and Economic Development groups, as well as by consulting the City Of Brentwood website about plans for the site related to DR 20-004, East side of Brentwood Boulevard, South of East Sand Creek Road.
There is a notification from the Planning Committee, along with a liquor licence application notice posted at the above mentioned location and it indicates that Grocery Outlet is planned to be there. This is where my disappointment comes with the City Planning and Economic Development groups. I contacted both groups and both contacts were not able to confirm what store is going to be established at the above location. Again, it is on the sign placed at the site by the Planning Commission!
I am definitely opposed to Grocery Outlet coming to the east side of Brentwood and here are my reasons:
1. We are inundated by discount stores. Don't we deserve better on east side of Brentwood and in Brentwood in general? As residents of east Brentwood we need to drive far and sit in traffic on Brentwood Blvd or Lone Tree to get groceries. Isn't it planning and economic development, and city government in general about creating easy access to basic necessities, such as groceries for a city's residents?
2. It is known that higher end stores maintain and increase property values in the areas where they are located. Brentwood residents pay quite a bit to purchase their homes, and especially on the East side, just to see their property values stagnant or even going down - I am sure you are aware of the problems we have in our area from homeless encampments, to street racing, garbage dumping,etc.
3. The demographics in Brentwood changed quite a bit, median income is at a level that according to market studies allows for shopping at higher end stores. This website I found with 2020 data Brentwood, California Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
Brentwood, California Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
So why is the City government not striving to bring residents choices that satisfy their needs and wants?
To validate my opinion please see the results of the informal poll I started on Next Door website about a week ago. It shows that 90% out of 845 respondents are in favor of a high end grocery store. Please note, Next Door restricts the area I can reach based on my address, and this poll only covered the East side of Brentwood. 4. Does the city require a market analysis by any retail store that wants to open a location in Brentwood? If not in place, please consider this to be implemented. It will show the applicant if there is a demand for their goods in the area.
Please help us bring a high end grocery store to our area! This is a perfect opportunity since the site in question is already planned for this use.
Best Regards,
Sinziana Todor Brentwood resident
From: Hill, Debbie To: Drummond, April Subject: FW: Grocery store planning Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:47:32 AM
From: Sal Anderson > Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 10:40 AM To: Hill, Debbie
Dear Ms Hill:
Brentwood has sufficient grocery stores. Competition is excessive. Support those which exist. Do not bring in more.
Sallie Anderson Brentwood Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone From: Hill, Debbie To: Drummond, April Subject: FW: New Development issue Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:47:43 AM
From: Karina Santos Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 5:49 PM To: Web Planning Division
Good evening,
I am a newer Brentwood resident and live off Sandcreek and today when I heard about the new development at the Sciortino Ranch Market I became extremely concerned. We moved to Brentwood to get away from the outlets and lower end stores that only diminish a homes value rather than raise it. A Grocery Outlet especially does not raise neighborhood value at all and this side of town is already lacking/concerning. The new Terrene development was hopefully going to that turn around, but to have it quickly ruined by an outlet store in front of it is saddening. Many of us on this side of town feel neglected with the abundance of apartments, 99 cent stores, fast food joints, smoke shops etc. while the other sides of town gets luxury stores that raise their neighborhoods value, while ours declining immensely. All of your citizens matter and we deserve better and while we have personally considered moving to the “safer” side but we love our home and don’t think it’s fair that when my family purchased this home in 2009 that wasn’t an issue, but it is now. Brentwood deserves better than stores that do not bring value or attract the right kind of potential residents. People will not see the value in moving out this far away from the central Bay Area if they aren’t seeing the beauty and potential that Brentwood has to offer. I encourage you to listen to your concerned citizens that are voicing their opinions on the Nextdoor App. Thank you for your time, Karina Santos
From: Nolthenius, Erik To: Drummond, April Cc: Hill, Debbie Subject: FW: No Grocery Outlet in Brentwood Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:59:23 AM
FYI
From: Grindall, Terrence
Ms. Margosian,
I am responding to an email that was forwarded to me regarding your objections to a business leasing a space at a Brentwood Blvd shopping center.
Thank you for your thoughtful email and your concern for the improvement of Brentwood. While we share your aspirations for higher end retailers, the simple fact is: this is a privately owned development and the City of Brentwood does not have control over the particular brand of permitted use that leases a space. Our regulatory authority does not extend to what tenant leases space- it covers only the actual use.
We do focus our attraction efforts on aspirational brands and encourage higher end stores, be we can only encourage/inform, not dictate. The private owner can sell or rent to the business they think provides them the best economic return. The City cannot legally distinguish between chains of stores or brand types. It would be illegal to deny a permit based on any other factor than those contained in the City’s zoning ordinances, general plan or State law. In this case, we cannot deny a business and developer with a proposed permitted use in order to favor another brand.
Supermarkets and grocery stores are permitted uses within Sciortino Ranch (technically known as Planned Development – 55). The City has a role of maintaining and permitting orderly development consistent with local and state law. Through various land use regulations and development standards, the City ensures that all new commercial development is built to a high quality consistently across our community. We must consistently require the same high level of physical development standards for all new commercial development including Sciortino Ranch.
Brentwood’s Economic Development Division is actively working with corporate representatives of desired retailers and grocers to bring businesses to Brentwood. While we can talk the them, businesses only actually come to a community after intensive market research and analysis based on THEIR economic models. While Economic Development does assist retailers with connecting the dots in our community and advocates on behalf of our Brentwood residents, we cannot force a business to locate in a certain location. Businesses locate based on available land, properties and a variety of demographic and economic data that best suits their own models. Each retailer’s requirements for the market and site is different. Each person’s demand for goods and experiences is different, some people shop based on experience and selection- even if prices are higher- and others shop based primarily on price and convenience. While you may not have interest shopping at a particular businesses, others will- that is why there is a diversity of businesses in the marketplace. This diversity is a healthy part of our free market economy.
I am sorry that you are disappointed it the decision that private entities have made, but as I stated above, this decision is not within the City’s purview.
I hope this information is helpful and please contact me if you need more information.
Terrence Grindall Assistant City Manager Brentwood California D: 925-516-5181
From: Rebecca Margosian
------Forwarded message ------From: Rebecca Margosian
Dear Ms. Hill and City Planning Division,
It has recently come to my attention that the city of Brentwood is considering opening a Grocery Outlet in Brentwood. I can’t understand why an application to open a Grocery Outlet store in Brentwood would even be under consideration, especially considering that there is already a Grocery Outlet in Oakley and Antioch, and Brentwood already has big box grocery stores. We do not need a Grocery Outlet in Brentwood.
Frankly, the type of store needed in Brentwood is a locally-owned ‘boutique’ type of grocery store such as a Farmer Joes Market, http://www.farmerjoesmarket.com/ , a Zanotto’s Family Market, zanottos.com, or a Lunardi’s Market, lunardis.com, just to name a few. Brentwood also needs local artisanal bakeries, such as a One House Bakery, onehousebakery.com. People travel all the way to Benicia just to purchase One House’s baked goods. While Brentwood has become a shopping and dining destination, the establishment of a Grocery Outlet in the city would not add to the city’s charm, rather it would have the opposite effect.
Brentwood is a unique city in the Bay Area because it has beautiful farms, wineries, and local artisanal products produced from these farms. Brentwood is like the Napa Valley or Healdsburg of the Bay Area. Having artisanal local groceries, bakeries and specialty shops would not only raise the general property value of Brentwood, but it would enhance Brentwood’s quaintness and uniqueness. And most importantly, a nicer grocery store would provide high-quality affordable culinary options to the people of Brentwood.
I hope you will seriously consider not bringing in a Grocery Outlet to Brentwood.
Sincerely, Rebecca Margosian
From: Nolthenius, Erik To: Drummond, April Cc: Hill, Debbie Subject: FW: Opposing of Grocery Outlet Proposal Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 12:01:40 PM
FYI
From: Nolthenius, Erik Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2020 9:52 AM To: 'Homes by JLo' > Cc: Hill, Debbie
Good morning Jessica,
Thank you very much for your e-mail. We appreciate your input. I copied Senior Planner Debbie Hill, project planner for Grocery Outlet, in case you have additional input or questions throughout the process.
Erik
From: Homes by JLo < > Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2020 10:59 AM To: Web Planning Division
Hello,
I'm writing to express that I am against the proposal of a Grocery Outlet at the corner of Sand Creek and Brentwood Blvd. This is not a good location for a large grocery store in such a dense housing pocket. The traffic has substantially increased with the additional builds and lights. Its an unnecessary addition and there's enough discount stores in this 4 corner pocket. I am strongly against this addition and I'm quite disappointed that there isn't a chance for the public to be allowed more input on this.
Thank you,
Jessica -- Jessica Lopez From: Hill, Debbie To: Drummond, April Subject: FW: Proposed Grocery Store: Sciortino Ranch Center Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:47:54 AM
From: Joyce K < > Sent: Friday, May 29, 2020 10:52 AM To: Hill, Debbie
Dear Ms. Hill,
Please reconsider opening yet another “discount” grocery store in our beautiful city: how will we ever rise to the heights of higher income cities if we are unable to attract buyers who are looking for homes in cities/towns with high-end retailers & services? We recently bought our house here because of the safety & upcoming “boutique city” feel where we can confidently raise our son with pride. There’s so much potential for Brentwood to be right up there with Orinda, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno or Saratoga. With Antioch’s continuing decline & increase in crime, Brentwood unfortunately already has a stigma amongst our more affluent friends & acquaintances that seems to be shared in general (that and being constantly confused with the Brentwood neighborhood in Los Angeles).
We already have a lovely downtown (minus the current influx of homeless & displaced) that could use further development to enhance the boutique feel & could easily draw even more Culture, Art & Wine Festivals to broaden the awareness & appreciation for our City. Why drive to Danville or Livermore for their festivals while we could easily earn similar revenues right here on a slightly smaller scale. It just takes attending one successful festival before something becomes a “tradition”, particularly for a young family like ours. I’m sure that we’re no different from other young families looking to take their kids to something fun, safe & a little upscale.
When I look at the retail landscape of Antioch with all of its “amenities” aimed at lower income habitation, I see what I fear Brentwood could become... please don’t let that happen. While I don’t personally think Brentwood needs another grocery store, if it must be a grocery store please court a higher-end grocery chain.
Thank you for your time & I hope that you can see the brighter future that Brentwood could have.
Sincerely,
Joyce Krause From: Nolthenius, Erik To: Drummond, April Cc: Hill, Debbie Subject: FW: Sciortino ranch Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:57:27 AM
You have this one, right?
-----Original Message----- From: Grindall, Terrence
Ms. Cullet,
Thank you for your email. I understand your interest in upscale brands, however, the city does not have control over which tenants occupy a space. We do reach out to property owners and retailers with the goal of having a range of retail offerings across the city that respond to residents’ desires. But in the end tenants are going to locate where they think they will have the most sales, and property owners are going to rent to the tenants that have good credit and can pay the most rent. These are private enterprise decisions outside of the control of government.
Retail stores are permitted uses in this comercial zoning. We can only assure that whatever is built is consistent with our design standards and guidelines. We cannot use brands as a criteria.
I hope this information is helpful. Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss this issue further.
Terrence Grindall Assistant City Manager Brentwood California 925-516-5181
> On Sep 19, 2020, at 07:13, S Culley > wrote: > > Hello, it’s been brought to my attention what the retail plans are for the area off Brentwood Blvd and Sand Creek Road intersection and I would just like to pass on my feedback. > > Brentwood does NOT need a grocery outlet. There’s one down the road in Oakley if someone wants to go to a Grocery Outlet. I don’t understand a town that would put in a sprouts would also have a grocery outlet. If Brentwood is trying to become a more upscale town....we don’t need more Discount focused stores, gas stations, car washes and convenience stores like 7-11. I understand retailers have requirements for the spaces they rent, So maybe you can’t bring in anyone more upscale due to requirements. But honestly I’d rather see those lots stay vacant then bring in what you have proposed. > > Shannon Culley > Garin ranch resident > > Sent from my iPhone From: Hill, Debbie To: Drummond, April Subject: FW: Welcome Grocery Outlet Date: Friday, October 16, 2020 11:51:22 AM
From: Michele Gouveia-Smith < > Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 5:55 PM To: Hill, Debbie
Please allow Grocery Outlet. I have very medically fragile children who require organic food. We have to travel to Buchanan Grocery Outlet in Antioch twice a month. They have the largest organic section we love. We get yogurt, fruit, veggies, cheese,chips, ice cream, ground beef, lots of other items at a huge discount! It’s the exact expensive label without the huge price difference. I just purchased 4 protein refrigerator bars that are $2.50 EACH at Safeway for .98cents. Yes all 4 for .98 cents and they run $2.50 for 1 at Safeway. I’m a single mom and i struggle living here. I pay taxes and have a job to. I welcome Grocery Outlet,please won’t you? Thank you, Michele
30 year resident