http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Bob-Horton-Time-to-jolt-retail-laws-into-the-6872420.php Bob Horton: Time to jolt retail laws into the modern age March 5, 2016
What makes a store a store? And, specifically, what makes a store worthy of a coveted space on Greenwich Avenue, arguably the region’s highest-end retail strip. Those are questions being asked as the Planning and Zoning Commission contemplates Tesla Motor Company’s request to spotlight its luxury electric cars in a 1,900-square-foot showroom at 340 Greenwich Ave., between Restoration Hardware and the Apple Store. Anyone who has been to the Westchester Mall in White Plains in the last several years knows full well that the Tesla showroom is more retail store than traditional car dealership. There is no service department, no huge parts inventory for sale and no lot full of new and used cars waiting to be test-driven. It is a brightly lit, highly polished space designed to entice shoppers to take a look at and eventually buy the latest Tesla models. Such a space would be a welcome addition to the Greenwich Avenue retail landscape. Other store owners would welcome the increased foot traffic generated by people’s curiosity about the newest electric cars, and the Tesla brand prestige would add to the already considerable allure of The Avenue as a shopping destination. Unfortunately, it seems likely that the Planning and Zoning Commission will reject Tesla’s request because town zoning regulations have not kept up with 21st century retailing trends, and an antiquated, anti-competitive state law mandates that only dealerships can sell cars. Tesla has no dealers; it sells directly to consumers. Tesla has promised not to sell cars at its Greenwich store, which keeps it in compliance with state law and could give our P&Z commissioners, if they were so inclined, the legal basis to allow a car showroom on Greenwich Avenue. Car dealerships are defined as places where vehicles are sold, stored and serviced. Without car sales, the Tesla space does not meet the definition of a dealership. In a town where elected officials continually rail against state interference in all matters municipal, one would think they would welcome the chance to take on the state by challenging its right to limit which retailers can sell cars. After all, this is the town that set up a commission to study state tax laws because one prominent hedge fund owner moved to Florida. Doesn’t changing a law that inconveniences many Greenwich and other state shoppers warrant a similar effort from our elected leaders? But the promise not to sell cars seems to eliminate Tesla as a store, at least according to one P&Z commissioner. “You’re displaying things (cars) that can’t be put up for sale. That’s a key part of retail use,” said commissioner Richard Maitland. And he has a point, because if street level retail spaces were leased to non-retailers, foot traffic would decrease and the health of the entire retail zone would be jeopardized. But Tesla’s innovative luxury electric cars are a high interest item that would generate more foot traffic than many other “stores” that actually sell goods or services. Greenwich, Fairfield County and many other parts of Connecticut are target-rich environments for Tesla, so the company will continue to pursue retail locations and changing state law. And it will be interesting to see how the town’s fully Republican state legislative delegation comes down on this issue. Will they support the free market principles that Republicans profess to cherish, or will they come down on the side of existing car dealers, who don’t want the competition? Connecticut car dealers are so threatened by the Tesla business model that they sent the president of their trade association, the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association (CARA), to the Greenwich P&Z meeting to argue their case. “CARA and its local car dealers in the town support the Greenwich Planning and Zoning Board’s recognition of the illegality of Tesla’s plan to sell cars in Greenwich,” wrote the CARA rep in a statement issued the day after the meeting. “Tesla not only wanted an exemption from the local zoning laws but is pushing a bill at the state capitol that also lets it operate outside of long-time existing state laws. They are demanding their own non-competitive playing field and will not commit to a dealer franchise system that is in the best interest of the consumer.” I particularly love the president’s claim that Tesla is “demanding their own non-competitive playing field.” So, CARA thinks there should only be one non-competitive playing field, and the dealers have it. Why should someone else get one too? Come on legislators. Give us our Tesla store. Free us from the anti-competitive tyranny of the automotive dealer franchise business model. [© 2016 Hearst Media] ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Avenue Greenwich Avenue, formerly Greenwich Lane,[1] is a southeast-northwest avenue located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/opinion/guest-column/2016/03/05/make-evs-affordable-ny/81378066/ Make EVs affordable in NY March 5, 2016 The programs' goals are to provide rebates or tax credits for EV buyers, to increase the number of available EV charging stations, and to add 30,000 EVs to New ... 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