THOMASTON, Maine — Dollar General has not surrendered its attempt to build a store along Route 1 in this Midcoast town.
The Thomaston Planning Board has scheduled a meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Watts Hall to review the application by Franklin Land Associates LLC of Brentwood, Tennessee for the retail store.
However, the town’s code enforcement officer, William Wasson, said Thursday he does not believe the layout of the proposed 9,100-square-foot store meets the town standards. One of the major reasons is because the building is situated perpendicular to Route 1, the code officer said.
The town requirements for the Thomaston Green design guidelines requires retail stores to be parallel to Route 1 with landscaping in front and parking in the rear. In addition, the entrance needs to be from a side street and not from Route 1, as Dollar General proposes, he said.
In February, the planning board rejected Dollar General’s original proposal, saying the project failed to meet local zoning standards. The planning board meeting attracted about 60 residents, many of whom were concerned about the design of the project not fitting in with the vision the community had for development in the area.
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.
“Franchise architecture, which is designed to be identified with a specific commercial chain store or restaurant, is not appropriate,” the town ordinance states.
Wasson said Thursday the new design offered by Dollar General is New England style.
The project is on a 2.6-acre parcel, next to where the Strong Agency insurance building is located, owned by Jlinn LLC, which includes John Miller of Thomaston.
Thomaston Green includes the area where the former Maine State Prison was located. The property runs along Route 1 and overlooks the St. George River. The prison closed in 2002, and the buildings were demolished.
The town has tried to encourage developers to build homes on the site, but the Great Recession that struck in 2008 dampened interest.
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.