POLICIES City will waive some fees and defer others

Instead, the city wants to cut some of the red tape associated with doing business in the South Bay.

For example, the city will prioritize commercial tenant improvements over housing projects in order to help businesses make minor construction changes in order to comply with socialdistancing guidelines.

On top of that, the city will temporarily eliminate Transportation Development Impact Fees. It will also defer Sewage Capacity Fees and Community Facility Fees associated with the DIF financing program in western Chula Vista.

The city also wants to make it easier for customers to see and visit local stores.

To that end, the city will stop enforcing its sign ordinance thus allowing businesses to attract customers by posting large signs or banners. Chula Vista will also offer free parking along Third Avenue and other commercial corridors that normally have metered parking.

Another new policy is to allow some businesses to use the public right-of-way for seating and queuing. This would allow businesses with small units to maximize the number of customers they can have at any given time. The city plans to do this on a case-by-case basis.

To do this, Chula Vista is looking into a “Slow Streets” program that would close some streets or traffic lanes. San Diego recently announced its own version of a “Slow Streets” program as a way to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety. Chula Vista’s main motive would be to boost economic development.

gustavo.solis@sduniontribune.com