Austin, Texas OKs Stricter Guidelines For Big-Box Retail

The Austin City Council took steps to allow more public comment into proposed big-box development, but stopped short of preventing the construction of a new local Wal-Mart in the Northcross district.

"Lincoln Property Company wants to redevelop part of Northcross into a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter. A neighborhood coalition called Responsible Growth for Northcross is fighting the plan, saying it will bring unwanted traffic and hurt property values...More than 100 neighbors protested outside of City Hall midday Thursday, asking the council to void Lincoln's site plan for the mall, which the city approved in August."

"Council members didn't do that Thursday, perhaps to avoid getting sued by the retail giant. Instead, a few council members applied public pressure, urging Lincoln to change its vision into a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly project."