TAFT, Calif. -- The Taft City Council voted to re-zone much of the heart of the city Tuesday night, upsetting some business owners who say the city is catering to a different type of clientele at their expense.

The re-zoned areas are from north of Kern Street (Highway 33) to Front Street between Highway 119 and 10th Street. While much of the zoning clears the way for the enhanced Rails to Trails park, a considerable portion changes general commerical sites to downtown zoning, clearing the way for mixed-use property, which could lead to higher-end retail establishments.

But owners of more blue-collar businesses, which have been a staple of Taft's economy for years, are concerned that the zoning changes could eventually force them to move to another part of town.

"We've always had oil-type businesses and more working-man stores in this city," Bill Friend, a business owner, said. "But these changes exclude those kinds of places."

The long-term plan is to make the center of Taft into a more walkable community, incorporating mixed-use buildings with higher-end businesses occupying the ground floor and residential space in the upper floors, Lawrence Tomasello, of the Taft planning department, said

"We don't think these types of businesses should be near a walking environment," he said. "We have plenty of other places where these businesses could go if they had to."

Roger Miller, who wants to open a public storage facility near 10th and Main streets, says he was concerned the change would affect his plans to build the facility because he has already put in about a half-million dollars towards construction.

But the businesses that are currently legally permitted will not be forced to move as long as the permits are current and valid with the city, Tomasello said.

The city does not want to hurt any type of business, Mayor Dave Noerr said. But the council said the vote was a move towards progress through redevelopment.