Letter to the editor:

Limiting big-box retail in Alameda County

To the editor:

Regarding your recent coverage of the growing problem of big-box retail in Alameda County, I wanted your readers to be aware of steps being taken at the Board of Supervisors to address this problem.

Last year I authored an ordinance to ban "superstores" - big-box discount retail stores that include full-service supermarket components - from the unincorporated areas of Alameda County. This ordinance was passed by the Board of Supervisors, but later withdrawn after a legal challenge by Wal-Mart.

I am now working on a new approach to address the legal issues while still protecting our communities from the harmful impacts of these superstores. Instead of imposing a blanket prohibition on all superstores, the new ordinance will:

• Require superstore applicants to fund an impact study analyzing the impacts on our community including local employment, traffic, tax revenues, public services, community income levels;
• Require the County Planning Commission to make findings that the proposed superstore would not have a net negative economic impact in the area, before issuing a permit for the superstore;
• Direct the Planning Commission to impose conditions, exactions, or other mitigation measures where necessary to ensure that any superstore approved provides a net benefit to the community in which it locates.

I welcome Sierra Club members' input and involvement in this issue. For more information about the proposed ordinance and upcoming public hearings, please contact my office at (510)272-6693 or email District3-at-acgov.org

Alice Lai-Bitker, Alameda County supervisor