Restrictions on discount stores approved in Stockbridge

The Stockbridge City Council voted July 9 to approve new regulations regarding “small box discount stores,” typically described as dollar stores, in response to concerns about possible over-saturation of the city with such stores.

The new ordinance requires that any new small box discount store be separated by at least one mile from any other such store inside or outside the city limits. The ordinance defined a small box discount store as a retail store with less than 12,000 square feet of floor area, primarily offering a combination of convenience items and consumer shopping items, and with continuous advertising of most inventory at less than $10 per item.

The ruling does not apply to drug stores or convenience stores attached to gas stations.