Even though Westford, Massachusetts, beat back a Wal-Mart in 1994, citizens at Town Meeting soon after added future protection by prohibiting the building of large retail developments (over 60,000 sq. ft.) and making it harder to build 30,000 – 60,000 sq. ft. developments by requiring that they apply for special permits, allowing time for citizen input and review by planning boards. Continue reading

The town of Warwick, New York, a rural community about one hour north of Manhattan, enacted a new comprehensive plan in 1999 that calls for supporting "small, locally owned businesses and retail centers" and a new zoning code in 2002 that bars stores over 60,000 square feet and shopping centers with multiple stores that together exceed 80,000 square feet. Continue reading

On March 14, 2000, the residents of Walpole voted overwhelmingly to enact a 40,000-square-foot size limit on new retail stores and restaurants. Continue reading

After three consecutive six-month building moratoria in response to a proposal to construct a 150,000-square-foot shopping center, this small town of 7,500 people adopted a comprehensive town plan which included a zoning restriction limiting retail stores to no more than 45,000 square feet and shopping center sites to no more than 15 acres. Continue reading

In July 2001, the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, adopted this ordinance prohibiting retail stores larger than 150,000 square feet and requiring stores over 30,000 square feet to comply with architectural and site design standards. Continue reading

The city of Rockville bans stores over 65,000 square feet and requires those over 25,000 square feet to comply with design and siting guidelines. The city’s ordinance has a strong list of findings to support the size cap. Continue reading

In Februrary 2008, the Town Council enacted a measure barring stores over 45,000 square feet and imposing additional standards on those of 25,000 square feet or more. Continue reading

In May 2002, the Northampton City Council enacted ordinances prohibiting retail stores larger than 90,000 square feet, and requiring that developers proposing stores larger than 20,000 square feet either construct pedestrian-friendly, two-story buildings contiguous to the street or pay a $5 per square foot mitigation fee. Continue reading

After a long ordeal fighting Wal-Mart, North Elba adopted a size cap ordinance limiting single retail stores to 40,000 square feet and capping shopping centers at 68,000 square feet. Continue reading

In March 2006, voters in the town of Nobleboro endorsed a measure capping stores at 45,000 square feet. Continue reading