In Greenfield, Massachusetts, for example, all new stores that either exceed 20,000 square feet or are expected to generate more than 500 vehicle trips per day are required to submit to a review before being granted a permit. In order to pass, the new development must meet criteria established by the community and demonstrate that its overall impact will be positive. Criteria may include impact on the environment, public revenue streams, historic preservation, traffic, the local economy, existing business districts, and community character. In most cases, reviews include a public hearing and can be a good way to ensure that citizens have an opportunity to participate in planning and economic development decisions. Impact reviews can be required by a single municipality or by an entire region.
Many corporate retailers are large enough to have an economic impact beyond municipal borders.
Many communities have difficulty rejecting unwanted retail development for fear that the development will simply locate in a adjacent town. Regional cooperation offers a solution to this problem.