Tofino to fast-food chains: Keep out

Date AddedJune 06, 2010 10:20:55 AM

Author

The District of Tofino is drafting bylaws that would throw up a nearly insurmountable series of roadblocks to discourage franchised fast-food chains hoping to do business in Canada's surfer playground.

The district is considering restrictions on everything from the size and illumination of signage and cookie-cutter decor to takeout packaging, carbon footprint and use of non-local ingredients, according to chief administrative officer Bob Long.

In addition, the district will draft a description of "unique attributes of Tofino's west coast culture" for the business sector that any new entry would have to adhere to, said Long.

Other tools may include extending the requirement for development permits to the town's commercial areas and forming a design panel to vet the form and look of new development in accordance with the newly drafted guidelines. Restrictions on the size of retail space may also be included to discourage big-box stores from setting up shop.

"I will be presenting all these things to council," said Long.

Coun. Stephen Ashton made headlines earlier this month with a proposal to ban fast-food businesses from the Vancouver Island community to preserve the town's unique character.

"It will be too late once we let one [franchise] in," he said. "Tofino's official community plan specifically says no to fast-food franchises, so we need to act now."

The type of community development Tofino hopes to model its bylaw on will be familiar to Vancouverites.

Vancouver's Granville Island successfully maintains its character by restricting tenants to "locally owned and operated independent businesses." On Vancouver Island, neighbouring Qualicum has held off fast-food franchises so far by requiring all food service establishments to provide sit-down table service, a position Ashton doubts would withstand a court challenge.

Tofino Mayor John Fraser says that the direction given in the official community plan allows Tofino's planners to reject unacceptable businesses through the development permit process.

A new bylaw that defines what is "unique" about Tofino and what attributes a local business must have could be used to guide appropriate growth in the future, Fraser said.

Ashton agreed: "If you are not unique, independent and self-owned, you will not get in."

Each year up to 800,000 people visit Tofino, which has a permanent population of just 1,700. The tourist traffic -- about 25,000 people on most summer days -- supports a variety of unique cafes and restaurants that use local ingredients, but no franchise restaurants so far, said Ashton.

"We are actually famous for the quality of our cuisine," said Long. "The goal is to preserve and enhance that."

Tofino has played host to the Tofino Food & Wine Festival since 2003, which is a celebration of local, sustainable food and eco-gastronomy.

"When I look at business strips that are covered with franchise signs it makes me wonder what was there before," Ashton said. "If we let [franchises] come here, people are going to miss out on what is authentic and real."

The bylaw could require food-service businesses to use local food products to ensure that fish is sustainably caught and to discourage unnecessary shipping, which increases the restaurant's carbon footprint, Ashton said.

The district has already passed a bylaw banning car idling that would prevent a restaurant from offering drive-thru food service.

"When we were declared North America's top surf spot I was asked by a reporter whether I was worried about Tofino losing its uniqueness and it made me remember how Venice [Italy] was so wonderful when I went there 20 years ago and when I went there 10 or 12 years ago there were McDonald's everywhere," Ashton said. "It really shocked me and it destroyed the experience."

rshore@vancouversun.com

Read more: