Design Standards For Large Retail Establishments and Franchises

Many communities have started developing design standards, particularly for large chain stores, in response to their dissatisfaction with "cookie cutter" designs that ignore local identity and interests. Communities can develop clear and enforceable policies to mitigate the aesthetic impacts of these stores.

Large retail establishments and franchises depend on high visibility from major highways. In turn, their design determines the character and attractiveness of those streetscapes. Locally-developed design standards can require developers of large retail establishments to provide architectural variety, compatible scale, pedestrian and bicycle access, and mitigation of negative impacts.