Zoning classification recommended for large retail stores

Under certain conditions, Walhalla planning commissioners recommend places in the corporate limits for major chain retail stores—those that meet size requirements and are not built in residential zones.  At their meeting, the planning commissioners voted to recommend allowing retail stores of more than eight thousand square feet floor space and  confining them to the following zoning districts:  office commercial, highway commercial, and light industrial.  Planning Commissioner Rosemary Bailes’ motion made the motion that incorporated other conditions including off-street parking and conformity to the downtown’s design guidelines.  Bailes’ motion passed unanimously.  The planning commission action goes in the form of a recommendation to the city council.  The council has enacted a temporary moratorium against new discount stores, after protest arose over the quest by Dollar General to locate a store on Main Street.  Some of that protest was heard again last night, as a handful of residents and business people made the case that large retail stores, commonly referred to as “box stores”, could counteract the investments that small business people have made in recent years inside the downtown core commercial area.  However, Chairman Chris Grant of the planning commission said he opposes the notion the notion that the city ought to take the position of choosing which brand of business is welcome and which is not.  Grant said, at his barber shop on S. Catherine, he gets a lot of feedback from the public and says, opinion is 50-50 over major retail chains.