When Wal-Mart's planned Warrenton store got turned down by town leaders, the discount giant decided not to put its big building in town -- at least not all of it.

A company official confirmed Friday that Wal-Mart is negotiating to buy a site that's partly in the town, but also partly in surrounding Fauquier County. Neighbors who oppose the project believe that by straddling the border, the chain is trying to dodge both town and county rules that require a special permit for such large structures.

The company says the average Wal-Mart is 120,000 square feet. Fauquier requires special permission for any building more than 75,000 square feet; Warrenton has the same requirement for ...