San Diego to Ban Big-Box Stores

Late Tuesday, the City Council of San Diego voted to ban giant retail stores, according to the Associated Press. The measure, which was approved by a 5-3 vote, will prohibit stores measuring more than 90,000 sq. ft. that use 10 percent of the space to sell groceries and other merchandise that is not subject to sales tax. The ban would affect big-box stores like Wal-Mart, whose stores average 185,000 sq. ft. and sell groceries. Fred Sainz, a spokesman for Mayor Jerry Sanders, said the mayor will veto the ban if the Council reaffirms it on a second vote. However, the Council can override the veto with five votes. Supporters of the ban argue that Wal-Mart puts smaller competitors out of business, pays workers poorly, and contributes to traffic congestion and pollution, while opponents claim the retailer provides jobs and low prices and that a ban would limit consumer choice. "I have a vision for San Diego and that vision is about walkable, livable communities, not big, mega-structures that inhibit people's lives," said Councilman Tony Young, who is in favor of the ban. Wal-Mart spokesman Kevin McCall said the company may consider a legal challenge or voter referendum if the measure becomes law. The ban is modeled on a law in Turlock, Calif., a city of 70,000 people 85 miles southeast of San Francisco. Turlock prohibited big-box stores more than 100,000 sq. ft. that devote at least 5 percent of their space to groceries. Wal-Mart recently dropped its challenge to the Turlock ordinance, which prevented it from building a planned 225,000-sq.-ft. Supercenter. In July, a federal judge in Fresno said Turlock's zoning law did not infringe on the company's constitutional rights. The state Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Wal-Mart has about 2,000 Supercenters, including 21 in California, but none in the San Diego area. The retailer has 18 regular Wal-Mart stores in the San Diego area.