Proposal for Taco Bell creates controversy in Watsonville, plan turned down

Tuesday city leaders said there’s big investment opportunity in the future. But some of the businesses moving in are creating controversy.

The Watsonville Planning Commission met Tuesday night to potentially approve a second Taco Bell in the city. But the commission decided not to move forward with those plans. Public comment was right at the top of the agenda, and there were strong opinions against the project.

Watsonville’s Mayor Nancy Bilicich is a native of the city and has seen many ups and downs of Main street over the years. Bilicich is excited for the changes coming to Watsonville.

“Come on downtown and come on Main Street it is going to be a happening place in time.” Bilicich said.

“We’re investing several million dollars in technology companies, the Santa Cruz County and Monterey County area,” said Bud Colligan with the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership.

Collligan said technology in the agriculture focused city is a great investment.

“Once we get our youth more excited about opportunities and technology, I think that will lead to more companies being formed and more start-ups starting and more mature companies growing in the Watsonville area.

But that’s all down the road. The city said fast food businesses are the ones showing interest.

“We have a lot of discussion about Mc Donalds coming in and yet buildings sat empty for 12 years and nobody wanted to buy the property. So finally McDonald’s said we will do it and we are going to put a restaurant in there,” said Bilicich.

It started with Burger King on the corner. From there NewsChannel 5 decided to see how long it would take to get to the new McDonald’s and the proposed Taco Bell if it comes. Without getting stopped at the Main street crosswalk it took less than a minute to pass by each fast food place.

The United Way of Santa Cruz County said that 49 percent of Watsonville’s youth is overweight, beating out the county average of 33 percent.

Kimberly Lacrosse from United Way started the Facebook page “Fed up with fast food in Watsonville.”

“Whether there’s 100 fast food restaurants or one , our kids are overweight or obese. We have to look at how we can reduce that and create opportunities for them to be healthy,” said Lacrosse.

But Mayor Bilicich said until the long term technology companies get here Watsonville needs to bring in revenue where it can.

As for the more long term business growth in the city, Watsonville said it has seen a surge in proposed developments and investments that will help expand economic opportunities in technology and tourism.