Austin TX considers extra level of review for large format retail

According to the article, "New rules for large stores face a vote: Changes would require more public input on big retail projects," in the Austin American-Statesman. From the article:

The new rules, which wouldn't apply to the approved Wal-Mart, would require a public hearing and a special permit for any proposed stores bigger than 100,000 square feet. The City Council gave the rules preliminary approval in December.

The Austin Planning Commission has suggested making it clear that the 100,000-square-foot calculation would include accessory buildings that national retailers often add to their stores, such as garden centers. "That would prevent a retailer from building two 98,000-square-foot stores side by side," said Susan Moffat, a board member of Liveable City, a nonprofit group that supports the new rules.

Developers would have post a sign on land slated for a large store, and the city would have to notify neighbors within 1 mile of the project, instead of just 300 feet, the current rule. The Planning Commission wants the city to notify nearby businesses that rent space, not just landowners. Some small businesses near Northcross said they weren't notified of the Wal-Mart because they lease their space.

The special permit could include specific compromises, worked out by developers and neighborhoods, for landscaping, lighting or traffic requirements. The permit could also include a provision that if the retailer closes the store, it can't be held off the market. Some stores sit vacant because retailers don't want their competitors to buy the property, Moffat said. Some developers would have to seek a zoning change and request special new permits to build a large store. ...

The Planning Commission suggested that, in the future, the city create a zoning category just for big stores.
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Speaking of demanding quality, the Near Southeast Washington DC Redevelopment and Revitalization website (JDLand) tells us that the DC Zoning Commission, shockingly, didn't vote on the redevelopment proposal for the "Florida Rock " site in Southeast DC by the forthcoming Washington Nationals stadium. Commenting that they understood that plans for the site began before a baseball stadium was even slated for the area, they suggested that the site plan and architecture strive to achieve more, given how the area is going to develop now.

But in contrast to the Austin action, one of the Zoning Commissioners, Anthony Hood, was surprised, favoring going ahead as is. According to JDLand, "Commissioner Hood, who was skeptical of these requests at such a late date in the process, said that if he were the applicant, he would leave it as a concrete plant at this point..." to spite the request to strive for something more.

(Thanks JD for the heads up.)