Yesterday's exceptions become the rule in new subdivisions.

Traditionally, the given in both residential and commercial development has been that "retail follows rooftops." Its premise has seemed logical enough: Retailers need to be geographically close to their customer bases, and homeowners need to be no more than a few-blocks away from-at least everyday staples.

But the traditional-wisdom, with exceptions, is no longer axiomatic. Dramatic changes in the retailing landscape, new mechanisms for public-private partnering and consumer demand for master-planned, lifestyle-oriented communities during the past several decades-have combined to" greatly expand the list of variables develop ers are factoring into their concepts.

However, the advent of big-box retailers -- which require huge expanses for their consolidated warehouse, …