Planning and Zoning Considering Farmers Markets

Beachwood City Council is considering legislation that would allow farmers markets in non-residential districts.

One councilman criticized what he said is a pattern in the city.

“Just because someone had an idea doesn’t mean we have to make it a law,” said Councilman Saul Eisen. “It appears to me that every time somebody wants something — and I don’t know if it’s one, two or three [parties] — we wind up with legislation to satisfy somebody along the way.”

Mayor Merle Gorden said that the Cleveland Clinic requested permission to hold a farmers market as part of a nutrition program. “We receive many requests throughout the year and we don’t act on all of them.”

Eisen’s comments came minutes before that would rezone an office parcel to allow a hotel — to change the city’s zoning code to allow hotels in the office districts.

Many residents accused the city of catering to Goldberg Companies, who owns the land in question, and the developer of the hotel.

The ordinance to allow farmers markets would restrict the size of the booths, signs and what can be sold. It would also require vendors to get approval from the city planner and police chief before selling.

The Cleveland Clinic has a weekly farmers market in several Northeast Ohio communities,

The ordinance was sent by council to Planning and Zoning, who will review it. If the commission recommends it back to Council, the members will vote on two more readings and hold a public hearing before approval.