A New Twist In The Wal-Mart Wars

In a nod to small retailers, Los Angeles will make it much harder for 'big box' stores to expand.

1 minute read

August 12, 2004, 1:00 PM PDT

"Proponents say it may become a national model for handling skirmishes over so-called 'big box' stores moving into economically fragile communities... The ordinance, voted on Wednesday, says simply that developers of superstores (those over 100,000 square feet) must do cost/benefit analyses to assess their economic impacts. Beyond the current practice of "conditional use" permits - which hinge on parking, land, and pollution impacts - applicants would have to assess a new list of controversial concerns, using approved but independent consultants."

Wal-Mart counters that it will have no problem producing economic studies that confirm that Wal-Mart brings positive economic benefits to the surrounding communities.

Thanks to Laura Kranz

FULL STORY: A new twist in the Wal-Mart wars

Thursday, August 12, 2004 in The Christian Science Monitor

Community / Economic Development California

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