2000-03-21
Walpole, NH. Town Caps Retail Size at 40,000 s.f.

Last year (see 1/28/99 newsflash from index) we reported that a developer in Walpole, New Hampshire had accepted defeat of a Wal-Mart store with grace. In fact, the developer compared trying to get a Wal-Mart into Walpole like trying to roll a snowball up hill. Well, it seems that the momentum of defeating Wal-Mart in Wal-pole has made that snowball grow even more imposing. According to WMUR TV, "Wal-Mart is not welcome in Walpole, NH." By a margin of 5 to 1, residents in Walpole at their town meeting have overwhelmingly voted to place a cap of 40,000 square feet for new retail stores. "Supporters of the zoning limitations," said WMUR, "say attempts to bring Wal-Mart into the community encouraged them to campaign for restrictions." The article that passed Town Meeting did not single out Wal-Mart, but simply put a size cap in place that will make it impossible for stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Target to locate a superstore in this beautiful New Hampshire community. To twist the state's slogan a little: "Live (Wal-Mart) free, or die." The Wal-Mart developer last year said: "I have no interest in bringing in something that the people don't want." Now the people of Walpole have shut the door and bolted it.

What you can do: For further information about other communities that have imposed size caps on retail stores, contact info@sprawl-busters.com. Such caps are a simple and very effective way to keep superstores from darkening the door of your town.