Store Opening Adjustment of a Large-Scale Retail Store based on the Large-Scale Retail Stores Location Law: Front of Takanohara Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line

This study examines the store opening adjustment by a large-scale retail store based on the Large-Scale Retail Stores Location Law, focusing on the store opening process and the reaction of local residents. The large-scale retail store opened in front of Takanohara Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line in Heijyo-Souraku New Town, which straddles Nara and Kyoto Prefectures. The opening of the store was made possible by the matching interests of the land owner, who wants to effectively use the vacant land, and the retailer, who is trying to gain an advantage over the regional market after the deregulation of large retail store locations. On the other hand, local residents who were concerned about the possible deterioration of living environment intervened on the store opening adjustment by submitting their written opinion regarding the contents of the store opening notification to the Kyoto Prefecture, who is administering the Large-Scale Retail Stores Location Law in the area. In response, Kyoto Prefecture handed down an opinion asking for improvement of the contents of the store opening notification to the land owner. Thereafter, the land owner and retailer repeated talking with some residents toward the store opening. In contrast to the Large-Scale Retail Store Law, the store opening adjustment of a large-scale retail store under the Large-Scale Retail Stores Location Law does not restrain the store opening itself. The opinion handed down by the governing body under this law, asking for improvement of the contents of the store opening notification in response to demands from some of the local residents living near the store, shows the necessity of discreetly considering the living environment when locating large-scale stores in the residential area.