Town Council backs proposed zoning amendment to halt formula restaurants

The Palm Beach Town Council gave preliminary approval at a special meeting Monday to several proposed zoning amendments.

The decisions, all of which were unanimous, were instructions to Town Attorney John Randolph to return with draft ordinances that will require further council approval. They would: Prevent formula restaurants from opening in commercial zoning districts.

Iler Planning Group drafted the ordinances to aid the Town of Palm Beach. The town was worried that other chain restaurants would follow Starbucks onto the island, the council in 2006 imposed zoning-in-progess rules to block chain restaurants while the town staff refined criteria to define those restaurants.