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09. Economic Impact Studies to be Routine for Box StoresPozeman Daily Chronicle v,,ysiYvyg://1 19/http://news.mywebpal.coni/partners/31 l/public/news226430.html Economic impact studies to be routine for box stores iMj? i�1J i By RON TSCHIDA Chronicle Staff Writer Email this storyto a friend Any "big box" retailer that wants to locate in Bozeman is going to have to tell the city not only how it will affect local wages and housing costs, but what it plans to do with its building after it closes -- possibly decades from now. The requirements were added at City Manager Clark Johnson's direction to a planning staff report on Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, which is planning a 121,000-square-foot building on North 19th Avenue. And they'll be added to any future big box application, city officials say. Johnson said he merely put in writing what he's - heard from city commissioners during discussion with Wal-Mart, The Home Depot and Lowe's, three retail giants planning to either expand or build new stores . here. Mostly Sunny 370 News .::.:........:::. . Search tips Advanced [Local TV Listings "I felt that there was general commission direction on (those requirements)," Johnson said. "I'm pretty comfortable with that." Any application for a retail store of more than 50,000 square feet needs to be accompanied by an economic impact analysis, including mitigation strategies for any negative effects. In particular, the plan must address effects on the local housing market. Corporations also must define plans for making its building available for reuse after closure. "The main issue here is that the city will not accept a plan that could result in a vacant, boarded -up big AL.Te.R Drivers wonted 1 of 3 12/19/01 1225 PM Bozeman Daily Chroiucle wysiNNryg://119/htip://news.mywebpal. com/partners/311 /publichiews226430. btml box with the weeds growing as has occurred elsewhere," report. up around the pavement according to the staff So-called "dark stores" have become a big issue elsewhere in the country, said Andy Epple, Bozeman's planning director. In most cases, the vacant stores happen because retailers such as Wal-Mart want to expand their store but don't have enough room on site. They build a new, bigger store nearby and abandon the existing building. Other communities are considering requiring corporations to post a bond to guarantee their building won't sit empty, or to give the city an opportunity to buy the property, Epple said. An economic impact study is a reasonable requirement and definitely something the City Commission wants to see every time, said Commissioner Steve Kirchhoff. "I believe five out of five commissioners think that's true," Kirchhoff said Tuesday. Kirchhoff has attempted several times in the last two years to kindle discussion on an ordinance that would limit large retailers. Dozens of communities across the country have enacted size caps or other restrictions; Coconino County, Arizona, which includes Flagstaff, passed an ordinance in August prohibiting stores larger than 70,000 square feet, for example. Such an ordinance hasn't made it to the table here. But the city has authority to demand an economic study under subdivision rules that allow the review of "related matters" in the consideration of major site plans, Kirchhoff said. Wal-Mart, which hopes to expand its North Seventh Avenue store by 80,000 square feet, paid for an economic study. But the company and city officials still haven't agreed on precisely what the study means. In a Dec. 4 fax, the company offered to participate in a community -wide retail promotion and put a shuttle stop on their property. "I think it comes up a little short of what the commission intended in terms of dealing with housing and wages," Epple said. Ron Tschida is at rtschida@gomontana.com 2 of 3 12/19/01 12:25 PM Bozeman Daily Chronicle wysiwyg:// 119/http://news. mywebpal. coin/partners/311 /public/news226430. html ©2001 MyWebPal.com. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. 3 of 3 12/19/01 12:25 PM