The proposed 8,000-square-foot store is to be built in the commercial district on the east side of Route 2, near the intersection of Route 2 and Route 100.
Members of the Duxbury Planning Commission will discuss recent developments and “next steps” concerning a proposed Family Dollar store in Moretown at their April 14 meeting.
Should the application to the Moretown Development Review (DRB) for a 100-foot-by-80-foot one-story 8,000-square-foot Family Dollar store at the intersection of Route 100 and Route 2 be approved, the Duxbury Planning Commission will seek party status in the Act 250 proceedings.
The planning commission has interested party status in the Moretown DRB proceedings and has actively participated in several Moretown Development Review Board hearings on the issue. Recently, the Duxbury Select Board also requested party status.
According to minutes from the March 16 planning commission meeting, the Duxbury Select Board’s concerns are similar to the planning commission’s regarding traffic and safety of the intersection.
At the March 3 Moretown DRB hearing, the board received a letter containing 44 signatures of individuals calling themselves “The Citizens Group.” That group is seeking party status and members have concerns about traffic circulation and the level of service at the intersection of Routes 2 and 100.
Consulting engineer Charles Grenier submitted plans for the proposed commercial building; developer Top Notch Properties took the project idea to five design build firms to come up with the best design.
According to the Moretown DRB March 3 minutes, the building dimensions will be modified to 102 feet by 81 feet.
Joel Baker, a potential builder for the project, said he was approached five weeks earlier by Top Notch Properties to come up with a building plan. He collaborated with potential project manager James Cameron to come up with a commercial construction building that is suited for the area.
“The Family Dollar store has their base in Charlotte, NC, but their generic ‘cookie cutter’ design is not well suited for Vermont,” Baker said.
Several attendees expressed concerns over the applicant’s failure to adequately address the traffic control issues. According to the March 3 minutes, members of The Citizens Group who petitioned for party status “feel this project will adversely add more ‘chaos’ to the intersection of Route 2 and Route 100.”
They would like another traffic study, according to the minutes.
Moretown DRB chair John Riley said that if the boundaries of the store parcel are being adjusted it has to be done as a part of the application. Otherwise, he said, the board will be unable to find that it meets setbacks, maximum lot coverage and other requirements of ordinance.
The DRB also made a request for a landscaping plan including which specific trees, plants et cetera and their respective height and size and maintenance plan for the green areas and all other landscaped areas.
The Duxbury Planning Commission will discuss the next steps of their involvement with the Moretown DRB hearings on Thursday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the town garage.
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