News
Should Georgetown Limit Chain Stores?
April 10, 2015
A Jersey City proposal to limit chains to 30% of commercial square footage has sparked an interesting discussion. Would a cap on chains protect mom-and-pops, or infringe on property rights and give landlords a headache? While the possibility is still hypothetical in Georgetown or DC, it's not as far-fetched as you might think. Cleveland Park has a zoning overlay that limits restaurants and bars to 25% of the street frontage of commercial buildings, the Georgetown Metropolitan reports. Similarly, some Georgetown residents began working with the Office of Planning several years ago to propose a limit on the number of banks opening in Georgetown. Without the support of the business community these proposals failed. [GM]
