Effort to limit big-box stores moves forward in Waldoboro

WALDOBORO – A 199-signature petition seeking to limit new commercial buildings to 25,000 square feet has been filed with the town clerk.

With similar moves in nearby towns such as Damariscotta, Nobleboro, Newcastle and Thomaston to control big-box store development, the Waldoboro petition comes as no surprise.

The petition will be addressed by selectmen Tuesday, Town Manager Lee Smith said Wednesday, and will go to a referendum vote June 13.

Smith said the issue could go to a ballot vote sooner “if [selectmen] felt it was an emergency.”

On Saturday in Nobleboro, residents approved a six-month moratorium on commercial buildings larger than 35,000 square feet. More than double the typical turnout showed up to vote on the moratorium.

The vote was the first of three in Lincoln County towns that could determine whether a Wal-Mart Supercenter is built in the area. Wal-Mart announced last fall that it wanted to build a 186,000-square-foot store on the outskirts of Damariscotta.

In Damariscotta on Tuesday, residents voted 747 to 456 to set a 35,000-square-foot cap on the size of retail buildings in town. Newcastle votes next week on a similar cap.

In Knox County, Thomaston residents will vote in May on two referendums – one seeking a 150,000-square-foot limit on new retail buildings and the other seeking a 70,000-square-foot cap.

The Waldoboro petition states: “Voters of Waldoboro wish to encourage reasonable retail development while preserving the existing scale and attractiveness of our community. Big-box stores threaten the viability of our existing town economy. They would create traffic problems and burden municipal services supported by taxpayers.”