Moratorium on New Businesses Is Expanded

First there was a one-year halt on any new fast-food restaurants with drive-through lanes. Now the City Council, grappling with outdated planning documents, has approved a 45-day halt on construction of new businesses in its historic downtown, from convenience stores to pawn shops.

Other businesses included in the moratorium are gas stations with mini-marts, pool halls, cosmetology schools, check-cashing services, auto parts and supply stores, liquor stores, bingo parlors and mortuaries. City officials said they plan a public hearing in the coming weeks to extend the moratorium for as long as a year.

City officials said the slow-down is needed to allow for an update to the General Plan and to determine what businesses are appropriate for the downtown surrounding Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The council will consider another building ban, this one involving large commercial or residential projects citywide. That meeting will begin at 7 p.m. June 16 at City Hall.

Officials last updated the General Plan--a blueprint for growth in the city--in the 1970s, when San Juan Capistrano had a population of about 5,000. The population has grown to 30,000, according to census figures.

1 The fast-food ban, prompted after approval of three new drive-through restaurants on Del Obispo, also is designed to give officials time to study planning issues.

A date has yet to be set to begin the General Plan update, a process expected to take 12 to 18 months.