Dollar stores are the new drug stores, they’re popping up everywhere. But the latest proposal may be the most galling. The Zoning Board of Appeals will be reviewing plans to put a Family Dollar store directly across from the Amherst Street light rail station.
Hannon Energ will be presenting plans to demolish the Main Auto Sound building at 2750 Main Street and replace it with a Family Dollar store. Energ needs approvals for the use, signs, floor area ratio, parking, and front/side yard setbacks in the Transit Station Area (TS) district. In other words, it needs variances across the board.
The current 20,000 sq.ft. structure will be demolished and an 8,320 sq.ft. store will be constructed in its place. There will be two parking lots along E. Amherst Street, one at the Main Street corner, with parking for a total of 16 cars. Two curb cuts are proposed along E. Amherst Street and one off of Pannel Street.
The proposed Family Dollar is one block from a Dollar General on Holden Street. The site is just a few blocks from the former Central Park Plaza site where LP Ciminelli is proposing 600 apartments. A conceptual neighborhood plan prepared for Ciminelli’s ‘Highland Park’ development suggested a “neighborhood retail district” in the Fillmore/Main/Amherst corridor (below). It is doubtful the site plan proposed by Family Dollar fits the vision for the area.
The Zoning Board of Appeals meets Thursday afternoon at 2 pm, City Hall room 901.