Planning for big box retail in small towns is a balancing act, say town managers.
"The wave of national controversy regarding big-box retailers has been around for decades. In the Blue Ridge Region's small towns, the saga continues. Big box retailers like Wal-Mart, K Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot and Target started evolving in 1962. Using similar strategies, the discount merchandisers set out on a relentless campaign for our retail dollars. And today, despite the plethora of reasons not to, consumers continue to swarm over the low prices and convenience."
"Lynchburg City Manager Kimball Payne says that in the six years he's been in office, the city of 68,000 residents has successfully co-existed with big boxes like Wal-Mart in the city limits. And, he says, Lynchburg may be getting another one soon, since the Hill City is a commercial center serving nearly 200,000 consumers. Payne is a proponent of local land-use decisions. He says it often involves balancing three primary interests: the community and how it wants to define itself, private property rights and the market."
FULL STORY: Big boxes in small towns

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie