THOMASTON, Maine — A discount store that has met strong opposition from residents is not giving up its effort to locate a store along Route 1.
The Thomaston code officer received a box full of material Tuesday from Dollar General in its effort to get approval from the town planning board for a store.
The Thomaston Planning Board is scheduled to review the latest proposal for the store beginning at 6 p.m. July 19 at Watts Hall.
Code Enforcement Officer William Wasson said about 100 people turned out at the June 21 planning board meeting and renewed their opposition. He said many of the concerns were about how the store would conform with the community’s vision for the Thomaston Green.
In February, the planning board rejected Dollar General’s original proposal, saying the project failed to meet local zoning standards.
The current design of the 9,100-square-foot store is more in keeping to the New England architecture called for in the Thomaston Green design standards, but the latest plan still fails to meet those standards, Wasson said.
The aim of the Thomaston Green design guidelines is to make buildings look as though they belong in a New England village green and complement development in the abutting residential districts, he said.
“Franchise architecture, which is designed to be identified with a specific commercial chain store or restaurant, is not appropriate,” the town ordinance states.
The Thomaston Green guidelines require that retail stores be built parallel to Route 1 with landscaping in front and parking in the rear of the structure. In addition, the entrance needs to be from a side street and not from Route 1. Thomaston General’s latest plan calls for the building to be perpendicular to Route 1 with parking visible from the street.
Franklin Land Associates LLC of Brentwood, Tennessee, is the developer for the retail store, which would be built on a 2.6-acre parcel, next to where the Strong Agency insurance building is located. The property is owned by Jlinn LLC, which includes John Miller of Thomaston.
It is adjacent to the former Maine State Prison, which was closed in 2002. The buildings were demolished and the site designated as Thomaston Green.
The Thomaston Green property runs along Route 1 and overlooks the St. George River. The town has tried to encourage developers to build homes on the site, but the Great Recession that struck in 2008 dampened interest.
The zoning that covers the green extends beyond to include the property that Dollar General wants to build on.
Dollar General has more than 12,000 stores in 43 states, according to the company’s website. Its 12 stores in Maine are concentrated in central and southern Maine.