From:
To: City Council
Subject: Grocery Outlet
Date: Friday, February 13, 2026 11:35:23 AM
Although I support access to cheaper food for those who cannot afford today's prices, not at the cost of 4 of our independent grocers. Whole Foods, Lucky and Safeway being corporate can weather whatever or close and still not lose too much nationally. But to lose Fircrest, Pacific, Andy's, Community Market, are you really considering Grocery Outlet more important??
Your Municipal Code 17.340.070 clearly says
Complements existing business: Prove it! Promotes diversity and variety: Prove it! Does not harm Sebastopol unique vitality: Prove it
Provides needed goods or services: Prove it! Is compatible with surrounding uses Prove it! Or fight it.
You already approved O'Reilly housing without the necessary infrastructure. I now have experienced traffic backed up on Hwy 12 from Occidental to the Seventh Day Adventist church and the housing isn't even ready. On Hwy from Sebastopol to Llano traffic light.
So obviously you never considered the existing traffic issues when you approved it. Or was it revenue/taxes that drove your decision?
Will your decision on the Grocery Outlet be based on revenue from a now empty building? When will your decisions be based on Municipal Code 17.340.070? Truth be told Guerneville is the best place because it is much closer to the people who really need it. Sebastopol location makes them travel from the River to get cheaper groceries.
Grocery Outlet will undercut everyone.
Eli Gifford
Sebastopol