In Your Town for July 12, 2023
NOVATO
Fire in Hamilton area
under investigation
A grass fire burned about half an acre in the Hamilton neighborhood.
The fire was reported at about 6:50 p.m. Monday in the Ammo Hill area. Firefighters had the fire under control by 7:19 p.m. It threatened no homes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Biotech seeks permit
to increase its space
A biotechnology company has requested a permit to expand its operations on Professional Center Drive.
BioTether Sciences Inc. conducts research and development in suite 311 at the Diablo Hill Professional Center, according to a city staff report by planner Vivek Damodaran. The company’s permit was granted in 2019. The new permit would allow the company to use suite 414 as well. The hours of operation would remain 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
A zoning administrator is scheduled to hold a hearing on the permit application at 2 p.m. Thursday at the city administrative offices at 922 Machin Ave.
COURTS
Marin DA’s office joins
settlement with retailer
Marin County will receive a share of a $1.46 million settlement over alleged consumer violations by PetSmart, the pet supplies chain.
The Marin County District Attorney’s Office and its counterparts in seven other counties sued the company on allegations of overcharging customers, false advertising and unfair competition. Prosecutors filed the lawsuit in Santa Cruz County.
Marin will receive $165,381.10 in civil penalties and cost reimbursement, said Deputy District Attorney Andres Perez, a consumer protection prosecutor for the county. PetSmart has no stores in Marin, but it has stores nearby that advertise in Marin and draw consumers from the county, Perez said.
The settlement includes court orders barring PetSmart from “engaging in false or misleading advertising and charging an amount greater than the lowest price posted for an item,” prosecutors said in their announcement about the resolution.
PetSmart did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.