Real Estate & Property Law
LA ‘Health Zoning’ Would Limit Fast Food
Posted Sep 10, 2007, 05:58 pm CST
By Martha Neil
Los Angeles is considering a two-year ban on new fast food restaurants in part of the city, in order to encourage residents to eat better food.
The approach, which the Los Angeles Times terms "health zoning," is far from the first attempt to ban fast-food restaurants by municipal legislation, the newspaper reports. However, other such efforts have generally been prompted by aesthetic concerns or a desire to protect other businesses. In this case, the City Council will be asked to consider barring new fast-food restaurants in south L.A. to promote good health—and help avoid costs associated with bad health.
Obesity rates are higher for residents of the economically struggling area, and they have also increased substantially in recent years, the Times writes.
"While limiting fast-food restaurants isn't a solution in itself, it's an important piece of the puzzle," says Mark Vallianatos. He directs the Occidental College Center for Food and Justice. Vallianatos describes the proposal as "bringing health policy and environmental policy together with land-use planning. I think that's smart," he says, "and it's the wave of the future."