Politics & Government
Farmers Market Approved, Appeal Possibility Looms
Get an alert when we write about the farmers market by clicking the "Keep me posted" button below. The Ecology Center has proposed a slightly new market configuration to address merchant visibility concerns.
Tuesday night, the Planning & Zoning Commission approved the 2012 permit for the Albany farmers market, but oponents of the location have 14 days to appeal.
Commissioners said the market location, at Solano and San Pablo avenues, appears to be the best fit found thus far by the city, despite lingering concerns from several nearby merchants about noise and parking.
Commissioners also said farmers market organizer Ben Feldman, of The Ecology Center, had made concerted efforts to accordingly.
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Feldman's attempts to include an offer of free advertising via a banner, coupons for shoppers and space at the market for them to connect with customers.
Several nearby business owners continued to say the market would be for their operations.
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The new market, which could begin in late May or early June, will feature , with fewer vendor trucks along its north side, and two aisleways to connect market shoppers to the northern sidewalk on Solano Avenue.
It will also include two nearby parking spots for the disabled.
The southern side of the block just west of the market, in front of , will be off-limits to farmers market shoppers in an attempt to hold spots open for shoppers of existing Albany businesses nearby.
Feldman said he plans to invite back all the vendors who participated in last year's market. He said he would wait until the appeal period ends to move ahead with details of this sort.
After the meeting, several merchants who have continued to speak out against the market location said they are undecided as to whether to file an appeal with the City Council about the permit.
Appeals cost $550 and must be filed within 14 days of a commission or committee decision.
See live tweets from the meeting attached as a PDF to this story.
Need to reach the city about this matter? Email cityhall@albanyca.org with a note in the subject line about the reason for your message.
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If there's something in this article you think , or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at albany@patch.com.
