Council Opposes 'Superstore' Bill

The Lake Forest City Council added its voice to a handful of Orange County governmental bodies Tuesday night opposing a state bill that would require additional paperwork of businesses planning to build or convert to a superstore.

Senate Bill 469, proposed by Sen. Juan Vargas (D-San Diego), would require that an applicant submit a new economic impact report before cities could approve a retailer converting to or building a superstore.

In the bill, a superstore is defined as a "big box retail store that also contains the equivalent of a full-size grocery store, with the total floor space often three to four times as large as that of a conventional supermarket."

On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously voted to officially oppose the bill without discussion.

In a phone interview, Lake Forest Mayor Peter Herzog said the proposed bill would be a "roadblock" to the city's residents.

"One of the things that is very important is for people to be able to buy groceries," Herzog said. "I don't see why the state should be limiting the ability of the city to provide groceries to people."

Vargas' proposal says that superstores drive local grocers out of business, lower wages and benefits paid to grocery workers and engender complex land-use, traffic and fiscal impacts.

Herzog said he disagrees with that.

"We have large stores, and we haven't seen that happen," he said. Lake Forest is home to big retailers and mom-and-pop stores, "a balance we want to maintain," he said.

The City Council has previously indicated its goodwill toward big-box retailers.

In 2009, the Foothill Ranch Walmart gained the city's approval to convert to a superstore.

The bill also could "undermine local land-use authority," according to a staff report recommending that the council oppose the proposal.

The League of California Cities, Orange County government and the Association of California Cities-Orange County also have voted to oppose the land-use bill.