No -- it's not a new children's toy, but rather a whole arsenal keep large box retail stores out of your community. The Institute for Local Self Reliance has just launched a valuable new website, www.bigboxtoolkit.com, designed for people who want to stop big-box proposals -- whether because of their adverse effect on local economic development and small businesses, traffic congestion, environmental issues, community impacts, or low-paying jobs.
The site explains how to navigate local land use policies, how to organize a citizen-based campaign, and how to enact local policies that put citizens in control of community development. It even includes a model store size cap ordinance, and an interactive map showing communities that are fighting big box stores.
The website notes that more than 200 big boxes have been blocked since 2001 through the local land use laws -- many of them through the help of the Institute for Local Self Reliance.
This looks like a fantastic resource, thanks for the heads up!
Posted by: everyday trash | 09/20/2006 at 10:49 PM