States v. Big Box Stores

The WSJ has an article on a Maine law placing restrictions on stores larger than 75,000 square feet:

Maine Gov. John Baldacci last week signed into law a measure requiring developers of retail stores exceeding 75,000 square feet to conduct studies gauging the project's impact on municipal services, the environment and local businesses. The proposed store can't be approved if the studies find it is likely to cause a quantifiable, "undue adverse impact" on more than one of those fronts and is expected to have a harmful effect on the community overall.

The Maine legislation is the first state law of its kind in the U.S., but similar measures have been proposed in six other states in the past two years. A bill made it through the California State Legislature last year but was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Another measure is under review in New Jersey.

Ben Barros

[Comments are held for approval, so there will be some delay in posting]