January 2, 2008
Big-box law up for debate again
Lawmakers this session will debate whether to allow municipalities to opt out of a new law requiring big-box stores to pay for impact studies before opening a store in Maine.
The 2007 law, called the Informed Growth Act, requires retailers proposing stores larger than 75,000 sq. ft. to fund an independent study on how the store would affect property taxes, municipal budgets, local retails jobs and wages, and whether it would have an adverse impact on the local economy, according to Current Publishing. The proposed bill amendment, sponsored by Sen. David Hastings (R-Oxford), would allow cities and towns to opt out of requiring retailers to complete the study if voters approve of the store coming to town.
Opponents of the law say the Informed Growth Act sends an anti-business message. "The burdens and uncertainties of the act, I'm being told, are stopping developers from putting in projects even where they're welcome," Hastings told Current Publishing.
The 2007 law, called the Informed Growth Act, requires retailers proposing stores larger than 75,000 sq. ft. to fund an independent study on how the store would affect property taxes, municipal budgets, local retails jobs and wages, and whether it would have an adverse impact on the local economy, according to Current Publishing. The proposed bill amendment, sponsored by Sen. David Hastings (R-Oxford), would allow cities and towns to opt out of requiring retailers to complete the study if voters approve of the store coming to town.
Opponents of the law say the Informed Growth Act sends an anti-business message. "The burdens and uncertainties of the act, I'm being told, are stopping developers from putting in projects even where they're welcome," Hastings told Current Publishing.
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