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Big Box Stores
Big Box News
Developer Seeks to Expand Bennington
Wal-Mart
A developer seeking to
double the size of the local Wal-Mart in Bennington has been issued
another extension to file his permit under Act 250. The State's
environmental court has set several dates for Johnathon Levy to
file and all have been missed. The latest extension was granted
because the expert that was hired by Levy to conduct the economic
impact sudy was unable to gather all of teh required information
until recently.
The expansion project
has been controversial and Levy's original proposal was rejected
because the town had a 75,000 square feet cap on stores. However,
in April 2005, the Select Board revised the bylaw to allow larger
stores if an economic impact study were conducted. You can find
moer on this story by visiting the Bennington
Banner.
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Several Vermont communities face big box store
proposals that threaten our downtowns and the surrounding landscape.
By choosing to locate these superstores in farmfields outside of
town, retailers are undermining our sense of community and the viability
of downtown businesses.
Recent polls indicate this is not want Vermonters
want. A 2004 poll indicated that more than 70% of Vermonters prefer
to shop in their neighborhoods or in a nearby downtown or village
center. Vermonters also most frequently say they want big box retail
stores to be located in downtowns. The poll was conducted for Smart
Growth Vermont by the Center
for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont.
Collaborative Activities
The Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative is working to ensure big
box retail proposals are the appropriate size and scale for Vermont
communities. The Collborative is currently:
- Coordinating
public outreach
and education,
including presentations
addressing
the impact
of big box
commercial
development
on downtowns
and villages.
In St. Albans,
the Collaborative
is working
with Northwest
Citizens for
Responsible
Growth in fighting
a proposal
to construct
a 160,000 square
foot superstore.
In Bennington,
we are working
with citizens
to address
a proposal
to construct
a 112,000 square
foot store.
Resources
Concerned about the impact of big box retail store proposals in
Vermont? Below are resources you can use to learn more about
big box stores and find out how you can get involved in encouraging
retail development that strengthens community centers.
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