Small Town Uneasy About Chain Invasion

Plans to bring chain outlets such as Starbucks and Subway to a small California town have locals up in arms over what they see as a threat to their town's historic character.

1 minute read

November 15, 2007, 1:00 PM PST

By Nate Berg


"Acton, a former mining town established during the gold rush of the late 1800s, is "the home of city folk who want a little country life", according to its website, a rare unspoiled pocket situated in a mountain valley dotted with historical buildings and crisscrossed by horse trails."

"But now developers from San Francisco want to introduce a slice of homogenous modern America with a Starbucks, Subway sandwich shop and chain Chinese takeaway, ubiquitous traits of the anonymous urban sprawl that proliferates nationwide."

"'It just does not fit our community,' said Ray Billet, a town council member who has lived in Acton since 1953 and says it had changed little in that time."

"The developers, United Growth, plan to erect four buildings with at least five chain outlets including a Starbucks on a 2.4 acre plot that would cater to both locals and commuters using a nearby freeway."

"Residents say they have been told the project will bring an estimated extra 4,400 cars a day to the location, which is next to a school, pave over a horse trail and necessitate the first street lamps and traffic lights - at least four sets are planned - in the town's history."

Thursday, November 15, 2007 in Telegraph

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Bird's eye view of large apartment complex under construction next to four-lane road near Atlanta, Georgia.

How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years

The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.

April 9, 2025 - Governing

People walking up and down stairs in New York City subway station.

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving

Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

4 hours ago - Scientific American

White public transit bus with bike on front bike rack in Nashville, Tennessee.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan

Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

5 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

An engineer controlling a quality of water ,aerated activated sludge tank at a waste water treatment plant.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding

The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.

6 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive