Watsonville city leaders reject new Taco Bell

After hours of deliberation, Watsonville city council members voted unanimously turned down the plan for a new Taco Bell on Main Street.

It was a packed house Tuesday night at the Watsonville city council meeting. Community members showed up to hear city leaders review plans for a new Taco Bell on Main Street.

In June, the planning commission voted against the project citing traffic impacts to the police station and concerns over the city’s overall downtown appearance. Developers of the project didn’t like the commission’s decision and filed an appeal against the city.

But many community members said they don’t want any more fast food restaurants in the downtown area-especially because a highly debated McDonald’s just opened near where the new project is proposed.

“This can’t happen anymore. They approved a McDonald’s within walking distance to the high school which is really bad for our community that’s plagued with
obesity,” said resident Joanne Sanchez.

Sanchez said she’s against any new fast food restaurants in the city. She said she educates her children about healthy food but fears that’s not enough these days.

Still others disagree. Taco Bell said the new project will bring 35 to 40 jobs to the area. Many Taco Bell employees addressed the council at the meeting in favor of the project.

“I do not have a high school diploma. I do not have a degree and it gave me that opportunity to move up to make career out of [my work] I and that’s how I support myself, that’s how live, that’s how I eat,” said one employee.