San Francisco Mayor Vetoes Big Box Law

Date: 1 May 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown vetoed an ordinance to require greater scrutiny of big box development. The measure passed the Board of Supervisors on a 7-to-4 vote in March. Eight votes are needed to override a mayoral veto.

The citywide ordinance would have required retail development projects larger than 50,000 square feet to undergo an impact review and obtain a conditional use permit before proceeding. Projects would be reviewed by the Planning Commission and evaluated based on their benefits, costs, and compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

The ordinance was prompted in part by Home Depot’s plans to build a 140,000 square foot store on Bayshore Boulevard off Cortland Street, which drew fire from local hardware dealers and residents of the adjacent Bernal Heights neighborhood. Rick Karp, owner of Cole Hardware and a supporter of the measure said, "One of the reasons that San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods is that people shop locally."

But Mayor Brown argued the legislation "sends the wrong message to businesses seeking to locate in San Francisco" and would hobble job creation.

  • For more on this ordinance and the Home Depot that prompted it, see back issues of this bulletin
  • Examples of impact review laws

 

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Stacy Mitchell

Stacy Mitchell is co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and directs its Independent Business Initiative, which produces research and designs policy to counter concentrated corporate power and strengthen local economies.