City Sets Rules For Big Box Stores

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=tct:2005:03:30:410598:METRO

Aim Is To Alleviate Negative Effects

After four years of discussion, Madison has an ordinance that directs the
design of large retail or "big box" developments.

In urging what would be the successful passage of his version of the
proposal, Ald. Ken Golden said the new law would "urbanize the big box."

"It greatly improves the requirements for better appearances," he added.
Golden said the ordinance also would provide better pedestrian
accessibility.

"I am trying to do something that people who actually build these stores say
they can work with," he said. "I think it will change the way big boxes look
and I think people will still build them in Madison."

Big box foes decry the sea of asphalt that surround superstore developments.
They say the sprawling, uninspired stores are ugly, environmentally
unfriendly and a potential kiss of death for existing small businesses that
would otherwise thrive in towns and cities.

In passing a big box ordinance, Madison joins cities around the country that
have tried to regulate such development to alleviate some of these negative
impacts . . .