Fine Dining and Fast Food:A Review of the Options

A Presentation to the Morrisville Planning & Board bySharon Rosche, Morrisville Chamber President

Ben Hitchings, Morrisville Planning DirectorNovember 12, 2009

Presentation Format

Part 1: Attracting fine dining (Sharon)

Part 2: Options for limiting fast food/expanding healthy choices (Ben)

Part 1: Attracting Fine Dining

Casual Dining Definition

A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere. Except for buffet-style restaurants, casual dining restaurants typically provide table service. Casual dining comprises a market segment between fast food establishments and fine dining restaurants. Casual dining restaurants usually have a full bar with separate bar staff, a larger beer menu and a limited wine menu. They are frequently, but not necessarily, part of a wider chain, particularly in the United States.

Fine Dining Definition

Fine dining restaurants are full service restaurants with specific dedicated meal courses. Décor of such restaurants feature higher quality materials with an eye towards the "atmosphere" desired by the restauranteur. The wait staff is usually highly trained and often wears more formal attire. Fine-dining restaurants are almost always small businesses, and are generally either single-location operations or have just a few locations.

Current Dining Options

• African (1)• American (7)• Bars/Food (5)• Buffet (1)• Chinese (4)*• Fast food/Drive

Thru (7)• Fast Food/Walk

In/Deli (8)

• Greek (1)• Indian (8)*• Italian (2)• Mediterranean

(1)• Mexican (5)• Pizza (4)• Sushi (1)

Location Options

• Downtown Morrisville - local fine dining

• Outlet Mall – casual dining

• Park West – mix of casual and fine dining

Goals/Opportunities

• Brand the Town of Morrisville

• Work with developers to attract casual and fine dining options

• Look at providing incentives for small fine dining facilities

Q & A

Part 2: Options for Limiting Fast Food/Increasing Access to

Healthy Choices

Issues• About 1/3 of N.C. children between ages

of 10 and 17 are overweight or obese (source: N.C. State Center for Health Statistics)

• About 2/3 of adults in Wake County are overweight or obese

• Four in 10 leading causes of death in U.S. are linked to obesity These include: coronary heart disease, type

II diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer

Issues

• In 2007, $17.5 million spent on Wake County Medicaid (8% of total) was attributed to overweight and obesity

Recommended Response from N.C. Division of Public Health

• Eat Smart

• Move More

Policy Approaches toEating Smart

• Limit access to unhealthy foods

• Increase access to healthy foods

• Encourage consumers to make healthy choices

Some Policy Options for Limiting Access to Unhealthy Foods

Option #1: Limit/prohibit “formula take-out food establishments” in certain zoning districts Establishments that are: 1) contractually required

to offer standardized menus and store design; and 2) serve/deliver food and beverages in disposable containers

Examples: Los Angeles, CA; Bainbridge Island, WA; Sanibel, FL; Port Jefferson, NY

Could inadvertently restrict desirable food establishments as well

Some Policy Options for Limiting Access to Unhealthy Foods

Option #2: Limit/Prohibit drive-through windows Numerous examples Doesn’t prohibit restaurants May have marginal impact on healthy eating

Some Policy Options for Increasing Access to Healthy Foods

Option #1: Buy local Look for locally grown fruits and vegetables in

the grocery store Sign up with a farm that offers Community

Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Option #2: Establish a farmers market Currently one at Carpenter Village (Sat. 8 AM

– 12 noon, May – Nov)

Some Policy Options for Increasing Access to Healthy Foods

Option #3: Promote private gardens Encourage residents to establish their own

vegetable gardens

Option #4: Establish a community garden Find a site for a community garden, and

establish a program to help residents tend plots

Option #5: Conduct education campaign Work with Wake County Health Dept., local

schools, and others to promote healthy eating

Conclusion

• Variety of potential options

• Appropriate policy response depends on community objectives

Q & A