News From The Trenches - Archive

News From the Trenches!

Stratford, ON (May 20, 2010) — A provincial board in Ontario has upheld the city of Stratford's decision to reject proposals for a cluster of new stores, including a Wal-Mart supercenter, ruling that the proposals "are neither in the public interest nor represent good planning."

Eagle, CO (Jan. 5, 2010) — Voters in Eagle, Colorado, soundly defeated a proposed big-box lifestyle center yesterday in an election that saw the highest turnout in town history.

News archive...

Other Headlines

News From The Trenches - Archive

Stratford, ON (May 20, 2010) — A provincial board in Ontario has upheld the city of Stratford's decision to reject proposals for a cluster of new stores, including a Wal-Mart supercenter, ruling that the proposals "are neither in the public interest nor represent good planning."

Eagle, CO (Jan. 5, 2010) — Voters in Eagle, Colorado, soundly defeated a proposed big-box lifestyle center yesterday in an election that saw the highest turnout in town history.

Mendocino County, CA (Nov. 9, 2009) — Despite being outspent 12-to-1, a grassroots group campaigning against a plan to build a massive big-box complex in Mendocino County, California, won a decisive victory when voters rejected the project by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

St. Paul, MN (October 28, 2009) — Neighbors and union members have won a year-long fight to prevent Walgreens from building a large store in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul.

Santa Rosa, CA (Sept. 16, 2009) — At the urging of local business owners, environmentalists, affordable housing advocates, and labor leaders, the Santa Rosa city council soundly defeated a proposed Lowe's store on a 5-2 vote.

Abingdon, VA (Sept. 14, 2009) — Opponents of big-box development in Abingdon, Virginia, are applauding a state court ruling that blocks a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter from moving forward.

Chico, CA (August 7, 2009) - a grassroots group, Chico Advocates for a Responsible Economy (CARE), is celebrating the Chico Planning Commission’s rejection of Wal-Mart’s bid to expand a current store into a supercenter.

Exeter, PA (June 5, 2009) - a grassroots group, Exeter First, has successfully convinced its borough council to require an independent community impact study be performed on a potential Wal-Mart supercenter.

Yucca Valley, CA (May 20, 2009) - A coalition of environmental and community groups are celebrating a recent San Bernardino County Superior Court judge's decision that invalidates Wal-Mart's environmental impact report (EIR), preventing a supercenter in their community.

Seattle, WA (May 4, 2009) - The grassroots group, Community Alliance for Responsible Development (CARD), is celebrating the recent news that a developer is dropping plans for a 650,000-square-foot big-box shopping center in Seattle¬ís Little Saigon neighborhood.

Owen Sound, Ontario (April 24, 2009) - Sticking up for its downtown businesses, the Owen Sound City Council derailed Wal-Mart¬ís plans to expand a current store into a supercenter.

Silverthorne, CO (April 17, 2009) - The hard work of the grassroots group, Summit County Independent Business Alliance (SIBA) is paying off, as area residents and media are increasingly vocal about protecting their local businesses and community from the potential detriments of a proposed Home Depot store.

Plaistow, NH (March 18, 2009) - Thanks to a well-organized grassroots campaign, Plaistow residents voted down (80% opposed) a request by Wal-Mart to rezone residential property to make way for a supercenter.

Leslieville, Ontario (March 13, 2009) - The grassroots group, East Toronto Community Coalition, was awarded for its efforts when the Ontario Municipal Board rejected a developer's plan to bring a big-box plaza to this Toronto neighborhood.

Blacksburg, VA (March 2, 2009) - The grassroots group, Blacksburg United for Responsible Growth (BURG), is celebrating a state Supreme Court decision that impedes Wal-Mart¬ís entry into its community.

Santa Rosa, CA (February 27, 2009) - The grassroots group, Citizens Against Wal-Mart (CAW), has frustrated Wal-Mart into dropping plans to bring a 106,000-square-foot supercenter to its community.

Vallejo, CA (February 9, 2009) - The grassroots group, Vallejoans for Responsible Growth (VFRG), is celebrating the announcement that Wal-Mart is backing out of the community, putting a controversial site up for sale.

Sunland-Tujunga, CA (February 2, 2009) - The grassroots group, the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance has pressured Home Depot into dropping plans for locating in its community after a messy, five-year fight.

Rockland, ME (December 18, 2008) - Residents voted to repeal a zoning change that would have made way for a Walgreens in this city of 7,500 people.

Bloomington, MN (October 30, 2008) - The grassroots group, the Accidental Activists, stopped Target's plans of placing a 180,000-square-foot Super Target in the community.

Salmon Arm, BC (October 30, 2008) - The grassroots group, Better Imagined Goals, Beyond Ordinary Expectations (BiGBoX), has assisted in thwarting a 370,000-square-foot commercial development that would have been anchored by a Wal-Mart supercenter.

Tinley Park, IL (October 10, 2008) - The grassroots group, Tinley Park First, has pressured a developer into dropping plans that would bring a 176,000-square-foot Wal-Mart supercenter to its residential community.

Salt Lake City, UT (September 12, 2008) - The grassroots group, Foothill Development Watch, and area community councils enjoyed a recent victory over Wal-Mart when the Planning Commission unanimously rejected Wal-Mart's request for a zoning change in order to make way for a new supercenter.

Cumberland, ME (September 8, 2008) - Strong opposition caused the developer to withdraw its application for a proposed big-box project just days before the town council was to vote on adding the issue to the November ballot.

Portsmouth Township, MI (August 21, 2008) - After 4 years, the grassroots group, Friends of Portsmouth Township, has frustrated Wal-Mart into dropping its plans for a 184,000-square-foot supercenter in this small, rural community.

Cumberland, ME (August 14, 2008) - More than 100 people turned out to a town council meeting in Cumberland, Maine to speak against a proposed development that would include two big-box stores and three smaller outlets.

Long Beach, CA (August 6, 2008) - Five years after the project was first introduced, the homeowners group, University Park Estates Neighborhood Association, has thwarted plans for a 140,000-square-foot Home Depot in its community.

Salt Lake City, UT (June 26, 2008) - Neighborhoods are standing up for independent local businesses in the city's Sugar House district by opposing Wal-Mart's request for rezoning a former Kmart site to make way for a new 113,000-square-foot supercenter.

Vallejo, CA - The grassroots group, Vallejoans for Responsible Growth, has pressured Wal-Mart in to dropping its plans for a 206,000-square-foot supercenter.

New Scotland, NY - The grassroots group, New Scotlanders for Sound Economic Development (NS4SED), has convinced their town board to pass a moratorium on commercial projects, preventing, for now, a 750,000-square-foot retail development that would be the 4th largest mall in the region.

Brattleboro, VT - Thanks in large part to the community education led by the grassroots group, BrattPower, Home Depot is closing its store in Brattleboro, Vermont, citing lackluster sales.

Simsbury, CT - Together, two grassroots groups, Simsbury Homeowners Advocating Responsible Expansion (SHARE) and Save Our Simsbury (SOS), have thwarted a development proposal that would have paved the way for a 128,000-square-foot Super Target.

Thousand Oaks, CA - The grassroots group, Citizens for Responsible Development, has placed an innovative policy that regulates big-box retail on June¬ís ballot.

Berlin, VT - The grassroots group, Citizens for Community and Local Prosperity, pressured Home Depot into withdrawing its plans for a new home improvement store.

Monsey, NY - Plans for a proposed 215,000-square-foot Wal-Mart supercenter have been shelved due to a well organized opposition campaign waged by a local grassroots group, Neighborhood Retail Alliance.

Hamilton, MT - Nearly 2 years after Wal-Mart bought its way into community favor, the grassroots group The Bitterroot Good Neighbors Coalition has outlasted the retail giant.

Hadley, MA - A grassroots group has pressured Wal-Mart into dropping plans for a supercenter on a controversial wetlands site.

Knightdale, NC - In a war of wills, Wal-Mart has bowed out of a long, disputed battle with a local citizens group.

Neptune Beach, FL - After two years of relentless pressure from the grassroots Atlantic Alliance, Wal-Mart has dropped plans to build a supercenter in this Northeast Florida town.

Glen Carbon, IL - Glen-Ed Citizens for Fair Growth has persuaded Wal-Mart to pull its application to convert an existing store into a supercenter.

Hillsborough, NH - Hillsborough Citizens for Positive Growth won a four-year standoff with Wal-Mart in November.

Salmon Creek, WA - A grassroots group, - Wal-Mart Watchdogs, has won an appeal to the Board of County Commissioners that blocks Wal-Mart's plan.

Cranston, RI - In just five months, Save Cranston's Open Space convinced developer Churchill & Banks to withdraw its application to bulldoze 55 acres for a big-box project.

Fircrest, WA - After more than two years, Fircrest Against Wal-Mart has frustrated Wal-Mart into abandoning plans for a 127,000-square-foot supercenter.

Gresham, OR - After a two-year battle, Gresham First has stopped a Wal-Mart supercenter.

Portsmouth, RI - On June 11, more than 200 members of Preserve Portsmouth packed a city council meeting to oppose plans for a Target store and urge passage of a moratorium on big-box development.

Westbrook, ME - In April, after three years of resistance from an active citizens group, Wal-Mart abandoned plans to open a store in Westbrook, Maine.

Chico, CA - Hundreds of people packed a City Council meeting in Chico, California, on Jan. 30th, 2007 to urge officials to reject plans for two Wal-Mart supercenters.

Austin, TX - A newly formed grassroots group, Responsible Growth for Northcross, is organizing community members to pressure officials into rejecting plans for a Wal-Mart supercenter.

Austin, TX - Grassroots groups Livable City and Austin Full Circle won a victory this week when Austin's planning commission voted 8-0 to endorse a measure that would subject big-box projects to added scrutiny.

© 2009 Institute for Local Self-Reliance