The city, which has about 300,000 residents, is the latest in a growing number of Texas municipalities to consider building regulations for big box retailers. Literally every big box trait is under scrutiny.

From all indications, council most likely will adopt the measure, which carries the approval of the city's planning and zoning commission. "We haven't had any feedback from council," David Green, an Arlington planner, told GlobeSt.com, "and we're not hearing any concerns." During the holiday, some meetings had been canceled, which had a trickledown effect on the measure coming before council this week as expected.

Green says a tremendous amount of work and forethought has gone into the proposed ordinance. Among the more stringent regulations are mandates that parking lots access onto four-lane, divided highways or two-lane, one-way streets. Rooftop equipment must be concealed as would loading docks and vehicle bays. The ordinance is designed to be neighborhood friendly, forcing exteriors of brick, tile, natural stone or earth-tone masonry.