Jefferson still battling Dollar General

8/2/2017

By Patsy Nicosia

Jefferson activists working to stop Dollar General from opening a store on their Main Street are pulling out all the stops before what could be an August decision on the project.
Developers for Dollar General first approached the Jefferson Planning Board about the project, which would be located at the intersection of Main Street and Route 10, in the spring.
Because Jefferson doesn’t have zoning—though it does have a Comprehensive Plan and a Rural Land Development law that requires site plan review—it will be up to the Planning Board to either approve or reject the request.
Dozens of residents opposing the project—and a few supporting it—spoke at a public hearing a couple of weeks ago and the Planning Board, which is in the process of completing the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposal, is accepting comments on it until August 16.
With that in mind, some of those who’ve organized a half-dozen protests at the would-be site and have collected close to 400 names on petitions opposing the changes they believe Dollar General would bring to their historical, agricultural town, met Thursday to keep the momentum going.
Barb Palmer, Gail Rentsch, and Sara Henry are among those who are putting together packets of letters from residents as well as excerpts from the town’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan supporting their case for distribution to the Planning Board, Planning Board of Appeals, Town Board, and even agencies like DEC, DOT, and the Department of Health.
“We want to make everyone aware of the protections we already have in place, especially in the Comprehensive Plan, which stresses the need for preserving the existing character over economic development and scenic character over harvesting resources,” said Ms. Palmer.
“This is a plan for what residents want to see in their town…we need to follow it.”
The 400-plus names on petitions opposing the project are huge, especially when taken in light of the fact that there are 900 registered voters in Jefferson, said Ms. Henry.
Letters collected opposing the project touch on traffic problems and other safety concerns, but mostly on the fact that any box store isn’t the first impression residents want to create when someone enters their town.
“One of the main reasons we…moved here two years ago was Jefferson’s small town feel…” wrote Joan Powers and David Savatteri. “One worry is that the arrival of Dollar General will deter new residents and new businesses…”
Ms. Rentsch and her husband, Werner, 50-year second-home residents, agree.
They moved to Jefferson because they liked its rural, historic character, Ms. Rentsch said, pointing out that second-home owners have a tremendous impact on the local economy, hiring local contractors and others.
Other letter writers fear the existing J&H convenience store, where there’s a deli, gas, and most other things they need, would be unable to compete with Dollar General’s prices, and owner Hemi Patel, who lives in Jefferson, would have no choice but to close his business, sell his home, and leave.
Another concern, said Ms. Palmer, is a grant the Jefferson Historical Society has received to inventory buildings for possible inclusion on the state and national Registers of Historic Places—something that would have an economic impact by letting owners access tax credits to help preserve those properties.
“And again, something the Comprehensive Plan already says is important,” she said, noting that consultants and other preservation experts have already warned that a Dollar General would jeopardize the needed historic designation.
Though the Planning Board could act as soon as August on Dollar General, members have said they’ll likely need an additional month to complete the required Environmental Assessment Review, which has already determined the project would have a “moderate to large impact” on a half-dozen items, including erosion, water quality, the view-shed, and community character.
“We’re going to be ready in August,” said Ms. Palmer. “Just in case.”