In November of 2005, residents in Kenosha, Wisconsin first learned about a developer’s plans to build a Wal-Mart superstore less than 3 miles away from an existing Wal-Mart discount store. The latter would clearly be shut down if the superstore opened, adding to Wal-Mart’s 310 dead stores already on the market. But this week, the city’s Plan Commission struck back, recommending approval of a new zoning ordinance in Kenosha that would not cap the size of large-scale retail buildings — but put special requirements on them. The effect of the proposed ordinance would be to stop cold any plans for the super Wal-Mart on the south side of the city. The ordinance, which now goes to the full City Council for ratification, would create a new classification of large-scale retail development, defined as single-tenant buildings larger than 100,000 square feet and multi-building unified business centers with more than 200,000 square feet of combined space. According to the Kenosha News, developments falling into that category would have to meet a series of requirements to receive approval from the city. Large-scale developments would have to abut at least one state or federal highway, as a way of managing traffic.
This Kenosha plan is not nearly as effective as an outright dimensional limit on the size of stores, but if it helps in stopping a huge, Wal-Mart supercenter, it will have served a very constructive purpose for the city. The final vote is not expected until March. For other stories about building size limits, search this database by “cap”.
