Ulrich said the anti-growth lobby "won't be happy until they make it impossible for big-box stores to get new building permits." Ulrich argues retailers are simply following the population, and won't want to build in areas in a location if residents aren't there to support it. But lately, he says, when people move to the second-tier suburbs and business goes there to serve them, critics--including some planning commissions--call it urban sprawl. These residents are being deprived of the convenience of one-stop shopping and competitive pricing, Ulrich argues.

Ulrich called on members of the National Retail Federation to urge local governments, including city council members and state representatives, to work with retailers not against them. Ulrich also advocated a level playing field for how sales taxes are applied to retail sales--in other words, Internet retailers should have to pay if land-based retailers pay. And he raised concerns that the movement to protect privacy could go too far.