A proposed zoning amendment in Queen Anne’s County, TA11-06, which seeks to change the 65,000 square foot limit for Big Box stores to unlimited, will be heard by the QAC Commissioners on July 26. The amendment, if passed, would clear the way for a Big Box store at the corner of 213 and 544 just north of Kingstown near the Royal Farm Stores gas station. The amendment does not sit well with merchants in Chestertown, or on the QAC side of the Chester River. Kingstown merchants on both sides believe a Big Box store would have an unfair advantage in purchasing power that would undercut small local businesses and drive down retail wages. Merchants have cited studies over the last decade that blame the Walmart affect for draining local dollars out of communities and killing local family owned businesses.