At a recent Gustine Planning Commission meeting, Gustine Downtown Business Association President Zachery Ramos presented an informational update on the Association’s 2024 Storefront Proposal—an ongoing initiative focused on revitalizing Main Street and supporting local business development through thoughtful, accessible design standards.

The presentation was not a formal action item, but rather an opportunity for the Planning Commission and community to learn more about the efforts the GDBA. has been working on behind the scenes. Ramos emphasized that the proposal is a “living document”—open to edits, updates, and community input as it continues to evolve alongside the needs of the business community.

“This is just a starting point,” Ramos noted. “We want to keep working collaboratively with the city, businesses, and community partners to make this document even stronger and more inclusive. Our goal is to give businesses—especially new ones—a clearer idea of what’s expected while also creating an attractive, welcoming environment downtown.”

The Storefront Proposal outlines best practices for storefront design, including signage, lighting, window displays, awnings, and outdoor seating. It also provides clear guidance on the city’s sidewalk dining permit program, ensuring safety, accessibility, and aesthetic consistency for outdoor dining setups.

Councilman Mark Melville, who serves as the City Council’s representative on the Planning Commission, praised both the proposal and the Commission’s efforts: “As someone who deeply values our business community, I believe this is a crucial step toward making Gustine more business-friendly. The Commission has done a fantastic job navigating these conversations, and I’ve been proud to serve alongside them as we seek new ways to support economic growth and development.”

Commissioner Phaidra Medeiros also emphasized the practical value of the proposal: “A document like this could really help new businesses that want to come in better understand the dos and don’ts. I’ve seen it happen in other communities I’ve worked in where someone comes in and says they didn’t know they needed to do something a certain way—just to be told it’s in the city code. This helps avoid that confusion.”

Business owners like Lizett Garcia of Whichcraft Taproom expressed support for the concepts discussed during the presentation, particularly the focus on revitalizing downtown and improving foot traffic. “I feel optimistic about the possible new changes and the process of businesses being able to have outdoor seating and the renewing of downtown,” Garcia said in a text following the meeting. “It would be awesome to start seeing more foot traffic. I feel the presentation went well, and it would make it a lot easier for other businesses to be able to know the process of getting everything completed without any questions.”

While no official decision was made during the meeting, the presentation was met with positive feedback and appreciation for the proactive approach the GDBA is taking to support local business growth and beautification. Ramos invited continued collaboration and welcomed suggestions from the Planning Commission, business owners, and the community to further strengthen the proposal.

“I would like to thank the Gustine Planning Commission for their time and leadership as well as their comments on the presentation. It was very nice to hear from Commission Chair Thomas Gomes that the city does allow restaurant outdoor seating which is fantastic for are local restaurants to utilize to help boost their business.”

For more information or to view the proposal, residents and business owners are encouraged to reach out to the Gustine Downtown Business Association or attend future Planning Commission meetings.