Community Impact Assessment Legislation Nears Passage in Maine

Last week, the Maine House of Representatives passed LD 1810, the Informed Growth Act, by a vote of 82-49. This legislation would highlight the true costs of big box development and provide communities with the tools and information to create and sustain vibrant, just, and sustainable local economies.

The legislation has been championed by the Maine Fair Trade Campaign, with the goal of providing cities and towns better tools with which to evaluate the full range of benefits and costs associated with large-scale retail development. It would allow retail development decisions to be made using objective information on how the development would impact things such as existing small business, employment and the cost of public services.

The Maine Senate is expected to vote on the legislation this week.

According to the MFTC:

The Informed Growth Act would trigger economic and community impact assessments for proposed large-scale retail “Big Box” stores 75,000 square feet and greater. These stores come with a host of hidden costs and it’s important that local decision makers have the information they need to make informed decisions about growth. The studies would look at the impacts on existing businesses, jobs, wages, town services, the vitality of downtowns and would consider the generalized environmental impacts. Right now, most towns can’t even consider factors such as economic and fiscal impacts when reviewing permit applications. The Informed Growth Act would ensure that these impacts are part of the review criteria.

For the text of the Informed Growth Act and tracking information, click here.

For a more detailed account of the bill, click here.

You can find out more about the Maine Fair Trade Campaign here.

Posted by Corey Himrod on Monday, June 11, 2007

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COMMENTS

Get your Maine lobsters at Wal-Mart via China!

Jesicca Fletcher in Cabot Cove
Monday, June 11 at 04:13 PM

After all the China crap Wal*Mart is pulling on the former American worker they just screw over the folks that work for them. Wal*Mart cheats their employees and screws them over on everything they can.

Auggie in Rochester
Monday, June 11 at 08:11 PM

Yes! Let’s stop shopping for Chinese made crap at Wal-Mart! Let’s buy our goods from stores that, thankfully, don’t sell anything but American made goods! You know, Target, Costco, K-Mart, Sears, JC Penney, Kohl’s, American Eagle and so on!

Only the evil Wal-Mart sells Chinese made goods! The others are 100% American!

Nick in
Monday, June 11 at 08:38 PM

“The Informed Growth Act would trigger economic and community impact assessments for proposed large-scale retail “Big Box” stores 75,000 square feet and greater.”

Do you mean they haven’t been doing this all along? Or, is this just another way come down on ‘big box retailers’? It is a good to assess things, just as long as the assessment is made without prejudice!!

Bob in
Monday, June 11 at 09:23 PM

The post says “big-box”, but the legislation actually applies to any large-scale retail development, including those with multiple structures and/or tenants, such as a shopping mall. The impact study itself would be funded by the development applicant (such as a Target, Wal-Mart, or Home Depot) and would be carried out by an independent consultant.

Corey in Washington, DC
Tuesday, June 12 at 10:26 AM

Maine has been studying the effects of Wal-Mart as long, if not longer, than any state. It’s no wonder they have chosen to make it difficult for Wal-Mart to continue strip mining the retail economy.

Way to go, Maine! A-yuh!

Ken V in Texas
Tuesday, June 12 at 06:06 PM

Ken V,

“Maine has been studying the effects of Wal-Mart as long, if not longer, than any state. It’s no wonder they have chosen to make it difficult for Wal-Mart to continue strip mining the retail economy.”

Does that mean, that if another Wal-Mart store goes up in the state of Maine, then Wal-Mart is: “A-Okay?

Bob in
Tuesday, June 12 at 10:50 PM

Does that mean, that if another Wal-Mart store goes up in the state of Maine, then Wal-Mart is: “A-Okay?

No, Bob, what it means (should it pass) is if “another Wal-Mart store goes up in the state of Maine” it will only be after studies have been conducted to access “the impacts on existing businesses, jobs, wages, town services, the vitality of downtowns and would consider the generalized environmental impacts.”

No more sneaking in “a host of hidden costs”.

Ken V in Texas
Wednesday, June 13 at 07:16 AM

Ken V,

That’s what I mean, a new store, would mean that Wal-Mart passed the test!!

Bob in
Wednesday, June 13 at 10:30 AM

I could see Wal-Mart passing the “test” if there isn’t another retailer within 50 miles.

Even if Wal-Mart continues to build in Maine, it will be more costly. I can live with that.

Ken V in Texas
Wednesday, June 13 at 02:56 PM

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