Orange County’s best Farmer’s Market is the one every Saturday morning across the street from the UCI Campus. It’s big, choices are plentiful, and the value of the farm fresh produce for the cost will put your local grocery store to shame. There’s grass-fed beef, assorted cooking oils, crafts, fresh bread, and all sorts of natural products.
And it’s about to go away thanks to Lynn Schott and the Republicans who control the Irvine Planning Commission. Schott’s vote to approve a fast-food drive-thru is cutting into the space where the Farmer’s Market has been for years. I went last week and vendors are being told its moving somewhere but no one knows where. The Irvine Company is taking a hit here too. The vendors all know that this market location is closing and no one knows where they will be relocated to. The Market itself is considerably smaller and its been re-configured, making it hard to find your favorite vendor. Some vendors have stopped coming because there isn’t enough space. Parking, already challenging, is a nightmare. And when you do find your favorite stand to buy apples, the vendors thank their regular customers for finding them and their patience. So instead, residents having a fantastic Farmer’s Market — with healthy and cost effective produce and organic food — it’s gone so Schott and her Planning Commission buddies could approve a new fast food drive-thru. So when she campaigns using her famous “give Lynn a Schott,” give her a shot of your middle finger and ask if she’d like fries with that.
You mean it’s too much trouble for them to pick up their tables and move somewhere?
Reminds me of this famous You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QFwso2gTTM
Humm, let’s see if I understand this correctly. The Irvine Company who I believe owns that shopping center has submitted plans to build some sort of fast food restaurant on their property. As such, the Company has likely cancelled the lease for the farmers market. If I know the Irvine Company, they most likely would offer the Farmers Market another place to relocate to? From your own description of the situation, it sounds like the Market has outgrown the location and needed to be moved anyway. I wonder if they have considered moving it to the Irvine Valley College land, which has more than adequate space and the school could use the revenue?
Two issues at hand here. First, is the right of the Irvine Company to develop their property as they see fit. Do you have an issue with that Dan? Secondly, chances are the new restaurant will bring more sales tax revenue to the City than the Farmers Market was doing? Guess you don’t care about that either.
So the Irvine Company submitted their plans to the City and they were approved and went to the Planning Commission for review and approval. On what basis under the circumstances would the Commission be justified in telling the Irvine Company, “No, you can’t build that restaurant on your property, even though it is zoned for it?” Not only would it not be legal, it wouldn’t be right. That might be something your BFF Agranistas might pull, but not the current Council majority.
Sorry Dan, if thats the best B/S you can dig up on Lynn Schott, you had better work a lot harder. If you want to report on some worthwhile trash, how about Melissa Fox and her tax problems. Oops sorry I was having a senior moment and forgot she was one of your candidates.
As for myself, I have aready voted and did “Give Lynn a shot.” She is going to make a great Council member.
Ltpar, did you think of the vendors in the shopping center who will lose business from the loss of the farmers market patrons? Have you ever been? I’m guessing not…
As I replied previously on Melissa Fox’s blog, the Irvine Certified Farmers’ Market is NOT “doomed.” We are victims of our own success. We have totally outgrown that property and are in the process of finding a larger facility with the help of our current landlord. It would be very helpful if everyone would stop assuming and spreading lies and rumors. Hang tight. We will let everyone know when we find another location. In the meantime, we are still at University Center EVERY Saturday from 8-Noon. We appreciate the support of the local community.
Trish –the vendors are in the dark. No one knows where they will wind up. I went to 10 stands. Same answer.
Ltpar is correct. This is about a property owners right to develop their property as they see fit. Dan is trying to make a political story where there really is no story.
The farmers market needs a larger place anyway. I would rather have the farmers market than a fast food establishment but I don’t own the land. Since I cant get you all to stay home so that I can have a better experience when I buy my produce, then a better venue for the farmers market will help.