Proposed bylaw seeks ban on chain stores in Chatham

[The Straight Story]

Proposed bylaw seeks ban on chain stores in Chatham

CHATHAM (MA)— A proposal to ban chain stores and other "formula" businesses from historic downtown Chatham is ready for review. The planning board is holding a hearing on the ban and other proposed zoning changes at 7 p.m. March 3 in town hall, according to a legal ad in yesterday's Cape Cod Times.

Dennis and Nantucket also have excluded such stores, restaurants and take-out food businesses to protect their communities' character. The proposed Chatham bylaw would cover businesses that are one of 14 or more outlets under common ownership or control or a franchise.

Other proposed zoning changes would allow "affordable" apartments in industrial and commercial zones and expand the number of such apartments permitted on the same site as owner-occupied, single-family homes.

The town defines "affordable" housing as rent that doesn't exceed 30 percent of the gross monthly income of a household that makes 80 percent or less of the median income for Barnstable County. For a family of four making $59,200, monthly "affordable" rent would be $1,480 or less.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090218/NEWS/902180323/-1/NEWSMAP

[xchrom]

1. lovely!

:applause:

[lamp_shade]

2. I've been on Main Street in Chatham many times. My folks live nearby.

No Gap, Banana Republic or Penney's. No Pizza Hut or McDonalds. Just one darling (and expensive) boutique after another. It's a quaint and wonderful place to shop and eat.