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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Apr 1, 2004

Peterborough Residents Nix Stop & Shop Superstore

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/peterborough-residents-nix-stop-shop-superstore/

By a 2-to-1 margin, residents of Peterborough, New Hampshire, voted to reject a plan to build a giant Stop & Shop superstore on the outskirts of town. Peterborough is a community of 6,000 people about an hour west of Manchester.

"We’re a small, closely knit town with strong affection for our local merchants," said Jane LaPointe, one of several residents who spoke out against the development and distributed information on the impacts of big box stores in the weeks leading up to the vote.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Santa Fe Alliance Releases Independent Business Study

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/santa-fe-alliance-releases-independent-business-study/

Chains are multiplying much faster than locally owned businesses in Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to a new study commissioned by the Santa Fe Independent Business & Community Alliance (SFIBCA). The study concludes that the decline of independent retailers is eroding Santa Fe’s distinctive character and undermining its economy.

The study was conducted by Angelou Economics, a consulting firm based in Austin, Texas, that helps cities draft and implement economic development plans.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Tuolumne County Caps the Size of Retail Stores

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tuolumne-county-caps-size-retail-stores/

Before a standing-room-only crowd, the Tuolumne County, California, Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in January to ban retail outlets over 60,000 square feet, about half the size of the average Home Depot store.

The vote came after several months of review and more than two hours of public testimony in which residents overwhelmingly endorsed the measure. "Towns that have resisted the boxes have a vital diverse downtown business climate," one resident told the board.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Stoughton, Wisconsin, Adopts Big Box Limits

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/stoughton-wisconsin-adopts-big-box-limits/

After months of pressure from a vocal citizens group, the City Council in Stoughton, Wisconsin, adopted an ordinance banning stores over 110,000 square feet.

Stoughton is a community of 12,500 about 20 miles southeast of Madison. Last year, after Wal-Mart announced plans to close its 40,000-square-foot Stoughton outlet to build a 183,000-square-foot supercenter on undeveloped land, a citizens group called Uff-da Wal-Mart formed. Uff-da is a Norwegian expression of disdain.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Vermont Governor Proposes Closing Tax Loophole that Favors Chains

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/vermont-governor-proposes-closing-tax-loophole-favors-chains/

In his State of the State address, Vermont Governor James Douglas proposed closing a tax loophole that gives national chains an advantage over local businesses. The loophole allows multi-state corporations to shift income made in the state to subsidiaries in low- or no-tax states like Delaware and Nevada, thereby evading Vermont corporate income taxes.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Denver Drops Plan to Evict Asian Businesses for Wal-Mart

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/denver-drops-plan-evict-asian-businesses-walmart/

Following an outcry from local and national activists, the city of Denver has abandoned plans to condemn a shopping center, evict more than a dozen Asian-owned business, and transfer the property to a Wal-Mart developer.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

California Laws Targeting Supercenters Raise Concerns

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-laws-targeting-supercenters-raise-concerns/

Rather than capping the size of all retail stores, a growing number of cities and counties in California are banning supercenters in particular. These are generally defined as stores over 90,000 or 100,000 square feet that devote more than 5 or 10 percent of their floor area to non-taxable grocery items.

Under these ordinances, developers can still build massive box stores, so long as they do not combine department store merchandise anda full supermarket under one roof. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Hood River Rejects Wal-Mart Supercenter

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/hood-river-rejects-walmart-supercenter/

In early January, the Hood River, Oregon, County Commission voted 3-2 to reject Wal-Mart’s application to build a 186,000-square-foot supercenter.

"This was a marvelous and gutsy decision by the board," said Kate Huseby, co-chair of the Citizens for Responsible Growth (CRG), a grassroots group that has fought the proposal in this community of 5,000 people in north central Oregon for more than two years. "We applaud them for doing their homework, and making the tough vote."

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Supercenters in Southern California: Boon or Bane?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/supercenters-southern-california-boon-or-bane/

As Wal-Mart seeks out locations in central Los Angeles and the city council considers a measure that would ban supercenters from much of the city, a debate is brewing concerning the costs and benefits of supercenters for residents of low-income urban neighborhoods. Two dueling studies examining the impact of supercenters in southern California were recently released.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2004

Judge Halts Construction of Superstores in Bakersfield

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/judge-halts-construction-superstores-bakersfield/

A California Superior Court judge has suspended construction of two Wal-Mart supercenters in Bakersfield, California, indefinitely.

Judge Kenneth Twisselman ruled that the city council had not adequately examined the urban blight that could result if existing big box stores close after the new supercenters open. Vacant big box stores, the judge said, have significant environmental impacts that the city is required to consider as part of its environmental review process.

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