The city is proposing to limit commercial development toaccommodating only 43 vehicle trips per acre per hour. Bycomparison, sources estimate that a G.I. Joe's store – which ishalf the size of stores like Target and Home Depot - generatesabout 58 trips per acre. The new rules would affect all propertiesin the proposed transportation overlay zone, which coversapproximately two-thirds of the city. The rules are meant to slow adevelopment boom that began four years ago with the Sherwood MarketCenter and an Albertson's supermarket. A 10-screen Regal Cinemasfollowed. Currently, a Safeway, a G.I. Joe's and a Home Depot areunder development, and a Target store is in the planning stage.

Proponents say limiting development today will at least delayfuture traffic problems, if not prevent them altogether. They alsoargue that under the current system some big boxes could come inand gobble up the remaining road capacity in the next couple ofyears, leaving little legal room for future commercialdevelopments. Opponents say the plan violates city, Metro andstatewide planning goals, and unless the neighboring cities ofTigard, Tualatin and Newberg pass similar plans, Sherwood'srestrictions won't prevent traffic jams as cars move through thecity.