In February 2003, the city of Bozeman, Montana, enacted an ordinance limiting retail stores to no more than 75,000 square feet and requiring retail developments between 40,000 and 75,000 square feet to meet design and site development standards. Continue reading
In 2001, after Wal-Mart optioned land on the outskirts of Belfast, Maine, a community of 6,500 in the fast-growing midcoast region, the city council adopted a temporary moratorium on large stores and placed an initiative permanently banning stores over 75,000 square feet on the ballot. On election day, voters endorsed the size cap by a 2-to-1 margin. Continue reading
Ashland, a town of 17,000 in southern Oregon, has a citywide ordinance limiting retail stores to no more than 45,000 square feet. Continue reading
In 2002, voters in Agoura Hills, a community 20 miles north of Los Angeles, adopted a measure limiting stores to no more than 60,000 square feet. Continue reading
In 2007, the city of Fairfield enacted regulations to limit retail stores and restaurants located in neighborhood business districts to no more than 4,000 square feet. The city has twelve neighborhood business districts. Continue reading
In November 2000, the Kansas City Council approved new measures, including a 10,000-square-foot store size cap, to protect the Brookside neighborhood from large-scale, suburban-style retail development. Continue reading
This bill was introduced in 2006 and passed the Senate, but not the House. It would have established a statewide store size cap of 50,000 square feet. Continue reading
Vermont’s Act 250, adopted in 1970, requires development proposals of regional impact to obtain approval both from the local town and from one of nine regional commissions. Approval depends on meeting several conditions that focus on the project’s environmental and economic impact. This regional review process has limited sprawl and resulted in fewer large-scale retail stores per capita in Vermont than in all other states. Continue reading
Introduced in 2009, this bill stipulates that Oregon cities and counties may only approve retail stores larger than 75,000 square feet if they determine, based on an independent economic impact analysis, that the store would not have an "undue adverse impact." In addition to the economic factors, the analysis must examine the vehicle miles and carbon dioxide emissions that would be generated by the store. Continue reading
Enacted in June 2007, the Informed Growth Act stipulates that cities conduct an economic impact analysis for proposed stores larger than 75,000 square feet (roughly half the size of a typical Target or Home Depot). After considering the findings of the analysis and testimony taken at a public hearing, a town may approve such a project only if it concludes that the store would not have an undue adverse impact on the local economy. Continue reading
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