Dollar General Files Appeal Of Planning Commission Denial
When: Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Council Chambers
What: Public hearing before the Zoning Board to hear an appeal of the August 10, 2018 Planning Commission decision denying Charlestown DG LLC’s (“Lisciotti”) Master Plan application for the proposed Dollar General store.
Many have asked what is next regarding the proposal to build a 7,400-square-foot Dollar General store in Charlestown’s Traditional Village and Historic Village Overlay districts. The answer is that the applicant has filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to deny its master plan application.
On November 20 the Zoning Board of Review will hold a public hearing on the appeal.
In August, Ruth Platner, Chair of the Planning Commission, was quoted in the Westerly Sun, as follows:
“Despite repeated requests to provide an alternate plan regarding access to and circulation within the site, to design the access in a manner that is not disruptive to the neighborhood and to reduce the amount of pavement and stormwater runoff potential, we were not presented with alternative site access, circulation and design options,”
As has been clear throughout, Dollar General was deemed a department store by the town’s building official in 2015 and thus was not allowed under rules for the Traditional Village District. The Charlestown Zoning Board of Review upheld that decision of the building official. That decision was overturned by a Superior Court judge in July 2017.
Tom Gentz, the author of this post, is a member of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance Steering Committee and a former Town Council President of Charlestown.
November 19, 2018 @ 3:35 pm
Hi there,
When will Zoning rule on the 7,400 square footage they want to build DG? Isn’t the area only zoned for 5,000? Why not put an end to it now? Let’s uphold our comprehensive plan for the village district.
There is a brand new Dollar General on Rte 216, near the truck stop in North Stonington, 20 minutes away. Shoppers wanting their products should head on over.
November 19, 2018 @ 7:44 pm
Hi Karen,
The Planning Commission declined the Dollar General.
The developer can appeal the Planning Commission decision to the Zoning Board. I hope that the developer gets the message that Dollar General is not welcome in the Town of Charlestown.
Tom
November 20, 2018 @ 1:43 pm
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOLLAR GENERAL HEARING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018.
Hello all,
Dollar General’s attorney has withdrawn its appeal of the Planning Commission denial today, November 20, 2018, and therefore the Charlestown Zoning Board will not be discussing Dollar General tonight.
Unfortunately, the Dollar General attorney did not have the common courtesy to let both the Zoning Board and Charlestown residents who wished to express their concerns about Dollar General.
Here is an excerpt from the Dollar General attorney:
“Charlestown DG LLC
Application File No. 1469
Appeal of Planning Commissions Decision, dated August 10,2018
Assessor’s Plat 13, Lot 40
To Whom It May Concern:
We represent Charlestown DG LLC with regard to the above-referenced Appeal.
Charlestown DG LLC hereby withdraws its above-referenced Appeal.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.”
November 18, 2018 @ 5:36 pm
Like many folks at this time of year, I will be traveling to be with family at Thanksgiving. The timing of the latest meeting regarding the Dollar General is inappropriate. Surely it can wait another week.
November 20, 2018 @ 10:08 am
If you cannot attend due to traveling for the holidays, you, and others can send an email to the Charlestown Building Official and express your opposition at:
jwarner@charlestownri.org
Tom
November 17, 2018 @ 10:40 pm
I strongly oppose.
November 17, 2018 @ 3:48 pm
What do you mean?
November 17, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
I think it so unfair that a superior court judge who doesn’t live in this town can determine what should be built and what the people who live in CHARLESTOWN should have to cope with. Dollar General is a department store that wants to put up a big metal building in order to sell junk, processed food and products made from toxic chemicals in the middle of our natural environment. Our zoning in this area was designed for business and family habitat to comingle harmoniously. Dollar General,doesn’t belong here in the heart of Charlestown Beach and we have the right to make that judgement.
November 17, 2018 @ 11:33 am
I don’t understand this , are they applying for a special use permit ? The planning report is just an advisory opinion why appeal and not just apply for a special use permit. Regardless of the planning report they do not meet all the standards for a special use permit anyway unless they already know a judge will once again will rule in their favor for some suspicious reason.
November 15, 2018 @ 6:49 am
Charlestown is such a special, little gem of New England. I don’t know of any other little village as quaint as ours, with all we have to offer, right here. There is not one person I have spoken to, who lives here, who wants a store like this in our sweet, little town. A store like this is disruptive to the character of this neighborhood, the walkers, cyclists, sightseers. The additional store traffic with all of the problems that would bring, on top of the major surge in summer traffic that we already experience and increases yearly, should be enough to put this issue to rest.
November 15, 2018 @ 11:27 am
Thank you all for your comments in opposition to the Dollar General Store in Charlestown.
Consider attending the Zoning Board Hearing on Tuesday, November 20 at 7 pm to voice your opposition.
November 19, 2018 @ 11:31 am
I cannot attend the meeting planned at such an inopportune time but strongly oppose dollar general coming into our town. It has no place in our pristine small community.
November 14, 2018 @ 6:09 pm
They are not welcomed here. Are there people in town who want this. I am on a slippery slope here if I say too much more.
Frankly, why would any one want a junk store in the middle of a historic town. There are two in easy driving distance.
The one aside job lot in Westerly very close.
I am confused. Seriously who wants it and why?
November 15, 2018 @ 7:35 pm
I think they should be allowed to build and look around you hardly any stores around at all, this would make it more convenient for a lot of folks!!! they carry a lot different products
November 16, 2018 @ 5:02 pm
Hi Carlos,
This is a dollar store, where all the prices are very cheap, and perhaps the merchandise is too.
The Charlestown Mini Super is across the street. The Mini Super supplies more than canned goods and cheap sundries. The Mini Super provides baked goods and butcher prepared meat products like my favorite Chicken Sausage. They are a true Mini grocery store.
The Dollar General will provide minimum wage jobs and management by non-Charlestown residents.
The Dollar General will ruin Charlestown’s rural character, and I will speak in opposition.
Will you join me to oppose Dollar General and not jeopardize the Mini Super’s future?
Tom
November 14, 2018 @ 12:25 pm
Have they considered putting it behind “ Cumbys”
across from Washington Trust? That flat ugly gravel bank would be better suited if we MUST have this. Of course in keeping with the “ Village “
Style similar to the bank and cumbys style and size to adhere to the architectural limitations.
November 17, 2018 @ 6:29 pm
Hi Robin,
I said the same thing. There is all that space right off 1 by the bank. When I was there in October, I believe it was available for sale. It would certainly be more visible from Rt 1 and much easier to access. If they put it up across from the Mini Super traffic on that 4 corners is going to be a nightmare in the summer!