PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach town council unanimously voted on Monday to move forward on an ordinance that would prohibit chain restaurants on the island in an attempt to preserve the town's "character," the Palm Beach Post reports. 

William Guttman, chairman of the town's planning and zoning board, said the ban is intended to "lock the barn before anymore horses get out." The council approved a change in the zoning code that defines "formula" restaurants as three or more of a chain with both similar names and trademarks, standardized menus and food or similar architecture, interior design and uniforms, notes the newspaper.

However, a chain restaurant could open up in Palm Beach in "disguise," which is exactly what Houston's did by tweaking its menu and changing its name to the Palm Beach Grill. The proposed ban must be approved by two votes on an ordinance in April and May.