Consideration of a controversial ordinance that could restrict construction of Wal-Mart and other so-called big-box stores in Blacksburg has been rescheduled.

The town council and planning commission will hold a joint meeting May 29 to hear public comment and vote on Ordinance 1450, Town Attorney Larry Spencer announced Monday in an e-mail.

The ordinance was scheduled for a vote at tonight's council meeting, but an error in the town's public notification process caused a three-week delay. As written, the ordinance would limit retail buildings to 80,000 square feet. Larger buildings would require an extra step: approval of a special use permit. It is widely seen as an attempt to discourage construction of large retail chain stores.

A new advocacy group called Blacksburg United for Responsible Growth has emerged to support the ordinance and oppose efforts by Ohio developer Fairmount Properties to build a big-box store behind the Gables Shopping Center.

The town's economic development arm, the Blacksburg Partnership, is studying the issue and plans to take a formal position before May 29, President Bill Aden said last week.

BURG has organized an e-mail campaign and petitions in support of the ordinance and led a rally last month at the Inn at Virginia Tech to oppose Fairmount's plan. The group met Sunday and appointed a steering committee chaired by Daniel Breslau, a Virginia Tech professor and co-owner of Homebody, a downtown clothing and housewares store.

Fairmount Properties has not announced which big-box retailer it plans to bring to Blacksburg. But completed site plans submitted to the town Friday showed a 176,000-square-foot building that would include 116,000 square feet of retail, 36,000 square feet dedicated to grocery sales, a small restaurant and pharmacy and 11,000 square feet of "outdoor sales."

-- Tonia Moxley