1 Feb 2004

California Laws Targeting Supercenters Raise Concerns

by | Date: 1 Feb 2004 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Rather than capping the size of all retail stores, a growing number of cities and counties in California are banning supercenters in particular. These are generally defined as stores over 90,000 or 100,000 square feet that devote more than 5 or 10 percent of their floor area to non-taxable grocery items.

Under these ordinances, developers can still build massive box stores, so long as they do not combine department store merchandise and a full supermarket under one roof.… Read More
1 Nov 2003

California Communities Embroiled in Supercenter Debates

by | Date: 1 Nov 2003 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Voters in Contra Costa County, California, will decide in March whether to keep a law banning supercenters from unincorporated areas in the county. Contra Costa County is home to about one million people and lies east of the San Francisco Bay area. The law, which was approved unanimously by the County Board of Supervisors in June, prohibits stores over 90,000 square feet that devote more than five percent of their floor space to groceries. … Read More
1 Nov 2003

California Appeals Court Upholds Formula Business Law

by | Date: 1 Nov 2003 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A California Appeals Court has upheld a local ordinance restricting the proliferation of formula retail businesses in Coronado, a city of 24,000 people near San Diego. The court ruled that the ordinance does not violate the US Constitution’s commerce and equal protection clauses, and is a valid use of municipal authority under California state law. The ordinance, enacted in December 2000, requires anyone seeking to open a formula retail business to obtain a special permit. … Read More
1 Sep 2003

San Francisco Weighs Restrictions on ‘Formula’ Businesses

by | Date: 1 Sep 2003 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez has introduced legislation requiring that neighbors be notified whenever a formula retail store or restaurant seeks to open in their neighborhood. Residents would have the option of requesting a public hearing and formal review by the Planning Commission.… Read More
1 Jul 2003

San Francisco May Notify Neighbors When Chains Try to Move in

by | Date: 1 Jul 2003 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Under a measure introduced by San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez, the city would notify neighbors whenever a pharmacy or coffee shop wants to open nearby. Residents would have 30 days to request that the proposed store be subject to a public hearing and formal review by the Planning Commission. Such reviews are normally required only for major demolition or construction, or when there is a change of use, such as from residential to commercial. … Read More
1 Jul 2003

Los Angeles May Require Big Boxes to Pay Higher Wages

by | Date: 1 Jul 2003 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Hundreds of residents have attended hearings held by the Los Angeles City Council’s Economic Development and Employment Committee on ways to mitigate the negative effects of supercenters on the community. Supercenters are massive stores, primarily operated by Target and Wal-Mart, that combine general merchandise with a full supermarket.… Read More
1 Nov 2002

Wal-Mart’s Bid to Buy Bank Blocked

by | Date: 1 Nov 2002 | posted in: Retail | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A coalition of consumer groups, unions, independent banks, credit unions, and realtors managed a legislative feat in California last month when they pushed through an 11th hour bill to block Wal-Mart’s attempt to acquire a small bank. Wal-Mart filed an application with state regulators in April to buy Franklin Bank of California, an industrial bank with $2.5 million in assets and three employees in Orange County. The new law prohibits non-financial firms from buying state-chartered banks. … Read More
1 Nov 2002

Eureka Develops Economic Impact Review Law

by | Date: 1 Nov 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Citizens in Eureka, California, recently attended the third in a series of public meetings aimed at drafting an ordinance that would require big box development proposals to pass a comprehensive economic impact review before being allowed to build. "We’re trying to create a livable, walkable city," said City Councilor Chris Kerrigan, who introduced the ordinance in April. "We’ve spent millions and more than a decade trying to turn our downtown around. … Read More
1 Nov 2002

Two California Cities Ban Supercenters

by | Date: 1 Nov 2002 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Two California cities have adopted ordinances that prohibit "supercenters"—massive 200,000-square-foot stores operated by Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart that combine general merchandise with a full supermarket and numerous specialty services like florists and gas stations.

In October, the Inglewood City Council voted 4-1 to bar stores over 155,000 square feet that sell more than 20,000 nontaxable items, such as food and pharmacy products. Inglewood has a population of 113,000 and is located in Los Angeles County.… Read More

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