The Arlington County Board voted Saturday to require “big box” retail stores to first obtain special approval by the board before moving into Arlington.
The decision comes after news that Wal-Mart may be eyeing a Shirlington location, as first reported this summer by the local news blog ARLnow.com.
County staff said in a press release that Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudon County and Prince William County had already instituted similar rules for large-scale retail.
The new rules require that any store larger than 50,000 square feet or more on any level, or stores that will provide 200 or more parking spaces must obtain a special permit from the County Board — a process that will allow for public hearings in which residents can comment on the changes the stores would bring.
