Introduced in 2009, House Bill 2388 is based on Maine’s Informed Growth Act. It stipulates that cities and counties may only approve retail stores larger than 75,000 square feet after commissioning an independent economic impact analysis and determining that the development would not have an “undue adverse impact.”
The study must consider the project’s effects on various economic factors, including existing businesses, employment, wages, and the cost of public services.
In addition, the study is to measure the transportation impact of the store, including the number of vehicle trips to be generated, number of trip miles generated, and an estimate of the resulting carbon dioxide emissions.
The bill defines “undue adverse impact” as meaning that the estimated overall negative effects of the development outweigh the estimated overall positive effects.
