"It comes down to preserving the character of Moab," said resident Chris Baird, who had successfully petitioned the town for a moratorium on big-box approvals until an ordinance could be crafted. "It's a matter of scale when you're talking about a small town."

After a year of ruminations and public hearings, the Moab Planning Commission hammered out a proposed ordinance to govern big-box retailers. It would restrict structures to 75,000 square feet and cap height at 30 feet.

It also calls for a demolition bond, should the retailer pull out.

Baird said he'd rather not see a Wal-Mart on the north end of town near the Colorado River - the only location within city limits for a large structure. But he believes the Planning Commission struck a compromise between those who'd like to see a huge Wal-Mart Supercenter and those who don't want to see any big box at all.

But this week, saying the language was too restrictive, the City Council scrapped it and decided to craft its own ordinance.

It's not just a question of limiting size, said City Councilman Rob Sweeten, who wants a size restriction of 120,000 square feet and 40-foot height limits. There is a real concern, he explained, that if Moab's ordinance is too restrictive, a giant chain store could plop down south of town in unincorporated San Juan County.

In such a scenario, Moab would still suffer the impacts that large retail brings, but would recoup none of the sales tax.

"This is simple economics," Sweeten said.

Nonetheless, there may be a solution that would allow Moab to retain flexibility when considering big-box development, said Mayor Dave Sakrison.

An ordinance could be crafted that would cap structures at 75,000 square feet but allow for expansion if a developer could meet certain - as yet unspecified - conditions.

"I'd sure as hell hate to lose the tax base. Moab City lives and dies by tax base."

csmart@sltrib.com