Citizens opposed to a ”Big Box” law passed this summer in Queen Anne’s County have succeeded in putting the law to a referendum vote in the 2012 election by gathering nearly double the signatures required by law.
“The number of people wanting to sign the petition was a good indicator that citizens felt strongly about the issue,” said Jay Falstad, executive director of Queen Anne’s Conservation Association. “Clearly, such a strong number validates citizen sentiment that Queen Anne’s County should be a predominately ‘rural’ county with small towns supported by small business. Big box stores from out-of-state are not compatible with the rural character of the county. Putting this issue on the ballot gives citizens the power to decide the matter and not three County Commissioners.”
The petitioners, Falstad and Stan Ruddie of Up Against the Wall, collected 3,870 valid signatures–700 more than required to let QAC residents decide the issue next Fall. Close to 600 signatures were rejected by the QAC Board of Elections.
The law was introduced last spring as a citizen sponsored text amendment that would increase the allowable size of large retail stores from 65,000-square-feet to ‘unlimited’ in all districts zoned Suburban Commercial. Pete Sheaffer of Centreville had hoped to attract a large retailer to his 26-acre property near the corner of route 213 and 544. The law received active support from Mareen Waterman–a successful real estate entrepreneur and Chairman of Business Queen Anne’s—a business association with a pro-growth agenda.
But many residents rejected the new law as a threat to small family owned businesses that have no chance of surviving in the shadow of a “big box” store. Retailers in Kingston and neighboring Chestertown in Kent County feared that a large retailer would unfairly compete with small businesses that were already being pinched by the Great Recession.
Another issue was that large retail stores were not in character with the rural landscapes of QAC and were in violation of the QAC Comprehensive Plan, which sets limits on how commercial development impacts rural communities.
Ruddie said that Up Against the Wall will be actively engaged in a public awareness campaign in the run-up to next year’s referendum vote.
“We will make sure QAC residents are aware of the true cost of irresponsible development on our rural way of life,” Ruddie said. He said he expects “pro-development” interests in QAC to campaign heavily against passage of the referendum.
Rachel Goss says
Text Amendment – not Big Box law…
Jay Falstad says
One ‘small’ correction – the petition gatherers were not limited to myself and Stan Ruddie. In fact, there were well over 100 people who were out collecting signatures. Some collected more than others, but this was truly a citizen effort, undertaken by concerned citizens from all four corners of the County. One resident in particular, a Kingstown resident, gathered nearly a thousand signatures by himself! A truly amazing effort.
Petitions for referendum are democracy in action and places the power of decisions for the County where it belongs…in the hands of the people.
Annie Power says
Occupy QAC.
Win Trice says
Jay, congratulations on your petition drive win.
Now, since you say you are all about democracy, how about giving us all a commitment that you will not file a lawsuit to stop it, if the citizens vote in favor of big box?
Jim Jam says
I think it’s a great idea so far the commissioners of QAC seem to have pushed just about every business that could help lower the ridiculous tax rate this county has. Wal-Mart, black and Decker. What we need in this county especially in Centreville is places we can eat, shop, and so on. Our kids when they graduate have nothing and then we wonder why there into drugs and drinking. THERE’S NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO! The so-called brilliant minds do not seem so smart to me. All only revenue this town has is the courts and police departments. Just open your eyes and look at it for once.
Stan Ruddie says
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Keith Thompson says
@Win,
I have asked Jay that very question on the air and his response was that he can’t. He explained that QACA cannot file a lawsuit because they would have no standing in a case since only a property owner would directly affected by a commissioner’s decision or a referendum has the standing to file a suit. If a property owner files a suit, against the referendum, the QACA would support them but the QACA can’t actually file the suit. Whether or not QACA would encourage someone else to file a suit, that would be a different question…
Keith Thompson says
According to the story, Daniel Menefee writes…”But many residents rejected the new law as a threat to small family owned businesses that have no chance of surviving in the shadow of a “Big Box” store. Retailers in Kingston and neighboring Chestertown in Kent County feared that a large retailer would unfairly compete with small businesses that were already being pinched by the Great Recession.”
Daniel has talked to different businesses than we have talked to. Many of the businesses we’ve talked to, especially along Rt, 213 in Kingstown and Chestertown, would welcome a big box store at the Scheaffer site because the increase in traffic would send more potential customers by their stores.
Steve Payne says
Keith Thompson says:
November 21, 2011 at 7:41 AM
According to the story, Daniel Menefee writes…”But many residents rejected the new law as a threat to small family owned businesses that have no chance of surviving in the shadow of a “Big Box” store. Retailers in Kingston and neighboring Chestertown in Kent County feared that a large retailer would unfairly compete with small businesses that were already being pinched by the Great Recession.”
Daniel has talked to different businesses than we have talked to. Many of the businesses we’ve talked to, especially along Rt, 213 in Kingstown and Chestertown, would welcome a big box store at the Scheaffer site because the increase in traffic would send more potential customers by their stores.
Both are correct. A large retail store would take customers away from other retailers that sell the same products but it could generate traffic that would increase the sales of nearby stores that sell other products.
M French says
During the petition drive I met a good many adamant people who moved here from other states, who strongly oppose big box stores after watching them wipe out small surrounding businesses, leaving vacant storefronts up and down the streets for blocks . They described once- thriving retail areas that were destroyed. Does the Eastern Shore want this legacy? Steve Arentz spearheaded this misquided action to overturn the Comprehensive Plan portion pertaining to a limited size of stores, saying big box stores would bring in more tax revenue and reduce our property taxes! If that were true, Fairfax County in Virginia should have the lowest property taxes in the East! Instead, they are tremendously high as building explodes. Beautiful Tyson’s Corner is a traffic disaster and an eyesore. What he is totally overlooking is all of the tax revenue that the County will lose when the small businesses leave. What do you suppose motivated these three Commissioners to vote for such a drastic change to such an important part of the Comprehensive Plan, that created a fair business environment in our county, for just 1 developer? After listening to so many citizens angrily complain about this Commission, they appear to know the answer to that question. Anyone with financial experience knows that you don’t improve the economy by raising taxes and building huge big box stores that will drive small businesses away. Their votes just don’t follow the fiscal conservative policies that these Commissioners espoused during their campaigns. I believe they are making very unwise economical decisions for our county.
Keith Thompson says
Steve Payne writes…”A large retail store would take customers away from other retailers that sell the same products but it could generate traffic that would increase the sales of nearby stores that sell other products.”
What’s lost in the equation here is that the retail stores in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties that sell the same products as the big boxes are already losing business to shoppers who are traveling to Middletown, Dover or Easton. I would think that keeping shoppers here is a net positive to the local economy.
@M French,
If the big box stores drive out local business, why is there a surplus of vacant commercial property in Queen Anne’s and Kent counties? A lack of big box stores should be a boon for local business. I’m quite sure that the folks you talked to during the petition drive are against big box stores because they are choosing to shop locally and thus are here to sign the petition. You didn’t talk to the residents who choose to do their shopping elsewhere. What is being done to keep those people here? That’s what economic development should be focused on.