No Big Boxes in Big D?

The Dallas City Council is voting today on whether to put a moratorium on all retail development of more than 100,000 square feet.

The resolution would create zoning and design standards for megastores. It could also influence big national retailers to seek sites elsewhere.

“No amount of economic development can offset a decline in residents’ quality of life,” said Mitchell Rasansky, the council member who proposed the 120-day moratorium. He said the superstores plop down, leave their doors open for 24 hours and disrupt the flow of traffic in surrounding communities.

Dallas mayor Laura Miller supports the moratorium. She said if big boxes are interested in coming to Dallas over the next 120 days, they can be considered on a case-by-case basis. “We seem to have a pattern of giant retailers coming into densely populated neighborhoods,” said the daughter of former retail executive Phillip Miller. “We need some type of criteria, some citywide standards.”