Del Mar

The Del Mar City Council has passed an ordinance that gives preference to retail use of all street-level office space in the downtown district.

The ordinance was adopted Monday night despite objections from business owners, who called it discriminatory and an effort to “legislate economics.”

The amendment to the city’s Municipal Code requires that operators of street-level offices, such as insurance or real estate businesses, must provide more off-street parking than must retail stores of comparable size.

Monday’s 4-0 vote--with Councilman Scott Barnett abstaining--was at least a partial victory for Mayor Ronnie Delaney, who has pushed for the measure for about six months.

Delaney said the ordinance is in keeping with the city’s general plan, which calls for encouraging retail uses and pedestrian traffic. She also said that it will protect the city’s sales-tax revenue base, which comes from retail businesses.

Delaney had to settle for a one-year “sunset” clause, which means the ordinance will have only a 12-month life. She had sought a 2- or 2 1/2-year sunset clause, but other council members, concerned that the plan might not have the desired effect, wanted the one-year expiration date.