The Elk Grove City Council voted 4-0 Friday for a 45-day moratorium on new big box stores in the city while it reconsiders changes to zoning rules for the stores.
The decision stems from raised by foes of a new Walmart proposed for the Madeira area that zoning code changes set to go into effect Saturday would make the project immune to further city review.
Under the code changes, the Walmart could potentially qualify as a grocery store, preventing the city from regulating the store's hours of operation as some residents have requested.
The moratorium, which applies to retail establishments larger than 50,000 square feet, will give the council time to revisit the new zoning rules at its July 27 meeting.
Councilmember Patrick Hume was absent for the vote.
