The Benicia City Council voted to deny Raglan Tuttle’s appeal to open a restaurant in the Industrial Park on Tuesday.
Tuttle filed the appeal on April 27 after the Planning Commission voted against him 6-0 at their April 13 meeting. At the council meeting Community Development Director Christina Ratcliffe explained why the Planning Commission denied Tuttle’s request. In 2015, Tuttle opened an event center called La Fabriquita. This center was used for parties, weddings and other ceremonies. Tuttle was told last April that an event center was not a permissible use in the Industrial Park and received multiple warnings from the city to close La Fabriquita. Tuttle would later submit an application to open a hot dog restaurant in the Industrial Park. After inspection of the site and discussion at their meeting, the Planning Commission would deny Tuttle his application and appeal for several reasons, including the concern that the restaurant lacked building and fire permits as well as adequate emergency exits, and the operating hours of the restaurant. Not being deterred, Tuttle took his appeal to city council.
Councilmembers Mark Hughes and Alan Schwartzman disclosed that they met with Tuttle before the meeting and visited the proposed restaurant site. Hughes said while driving home from the site, he was thinking of solutions to this problem.
“It’s easy for us to say ‘Well, you can do this because of this and you can’t do this because of that’ but is there a way to for us to make this work?” Hughes asked
Stephen Gizzi represented Tuttle at the City Council meeting. The attorney agreed with Hughes that there had been enough “conflict archaeology” of the site before making his argument. Gizzi cited facts during his argument, such as Tuttle’s commitment and willingness to work with the city. He also said the operating hours listed on the restaurant’s website were incorrect and the Tuttles never built without a permit.
After hearing Gizzi’s arguments, the council then deliberated Tuttle’s appeal. They began asking Ratcliffe about the rules and regulations for a 2,500 square foot restaurant. Ratcliffe said the Tuttles would have to be responsible for building interior walls to create a 2,500 square foot restaurant. Hughes proposed a resolution that the Tuttles open a restaurant that only served food and fits within the codes and the prematures of a 2,500 square foot restaurant. Ratcliffe said this proposal and resolution could work, but there would have to be serious modifications necessary for the restaurant.
The City Council would then vote to deny Tuttle’s appeal but included the resolution.
Also on the City Council agenda was the 2017-2019 general budget for Benicia. The main focus of the night was a summary of the all funds budget, a draft of the master fee schedule and recommendations for community and grant funding.
The council will next meet at 7 p.m Tuesday, June 20.

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