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LAGUNA BEACH : Farmers Market Move Gets Initial City OK

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The Orange County Farm Bureau will be able to relocate a farmers market to a highly visible spot downtown, but with a number of restrictions from the city.

City Council members gave conceptual approval Tuesday to the market’s move in November from school district property to the city-owned Lumberyard parking lot.

Farm Bureau officials will have to pay the city rent, close at noon on summer weekends instead of the usual 1 p.m., share space with community groups and--most importantly to area florists--prohibit flower sellers from renting stalls.

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That last concession was made to appease local florists, who worried about competition from the popular market.

The market has attracted thousands of people since it opened in May at the Laguna Beach Unified School District administrative offices property on Blumont Street. The farmers will continue to sell their products there on Saturday mornings through November.

Neighborhood complaints about parking and crowds had pushed the farmers to look for a better site closer to downtown.

City officials said they had hoped to find a private site, but that the public parking lot turned out to be the only viable spot.

Councilman Wayne L. Peterson insisted that, along with other conditions, the city should open up part of the parking lot’s space to nonprofit groups trying to raise money. “I love the Farmers Market, but I will not vote for it if we don’t have some local representation,” he said.

Details of the new proposal will be hashed out in Planning Commission meetings next month before it returns for final council approval.

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