Allowing a Dollar General in Gallupville is a sure way to destroy the community, with little gain and likely more traffic and crime.
That’s what the crowd at the Town of Wright Planning Board’s public hearing on the proposal for a 10,640 square-foot building with 35 parking spaces on three acres at Route 443 and Drebitko Road had to say about the project Thursday.
Just two people spoke in favor of the DG, noting there’s no place in the hamlet to buy even milk or bread and disputing claims it would increase traffic.
“The idea of more traffic is bogus,” said Robert Tanner. “Somebody’s got to break the ice so someone else comes in here.”
Caryn Mlodzianowski from Bohler Engineering, representative for the developers, Primax Properties, ran through the project for about three dozen neighbors.
The specifics still have a way to go, she said, but include shrubs and spruce trees for screening as well as a six-foot wooden privacy fence on the east side of the lot and downward-facing LED lights.
The building will have a barn-like look, Ms. Mlodzianowski said, with red siding and faux barn doors.
The project is still in the sketch plan review phase, Planning Board chair Evan Mossman said, and a full environmental assessment will follow.
The public hearing remains open for now; once it’s closed, the Planning Board has 45 days to act.
Linda Briggs was one of those arguing against the project as inconsistent with community character; she wants to see Gallupville remain farmland.
Phillipa Dunne said Dollar General has warned stockholders it’s struggling and she’d rather see local businesses whose profits remain local.
Sue Rolfe lives in the 1772 Becker Stone House on Murphy Road.
“I’d hate to see something like that in front of my house,” she said.
“I’d ask the Planning Board members if you’d like this next to you,” said Jeff Senecal, who lives on Route 443.
“We’re a community of residences and farmland. To stick it in the middle of a hayfield doesn’t make much sense.”
But Connie Skinner, who also lives on Route 443, said she’s “totally in favor of it. You can’t buy bread, milk…anything in our town.”
Ms. Skinner said she also like the barn-like look for the store and said she doesn’t believe it will increase traffic; most shoppers will be from Gallupville or already driving through, she said.
A couple of speakers said they weren’t opposed to “something,” but questioned whether Dollar General was it.
Mike Lacy, who lives on Schoonmaker Road, said the area’s already saturated with Dollar Generals—which others said is all part of the company’s strategy.
Still others predicted low-staffing would make the stores vulnerable to crime—if the spots could even be filled, predicting a vacant storefront in a year or two.
“Is the board able to stop this Dollar General in the end?” asked Luke Gorsin, who lives on Peach Tree Lane.
Yes, said attorney John Lyons of Grant & Lyons LLP, consultant for the Planning Board, “but you have to have good reasons and solid logic. SEQRA is a powerful tool to protect some resources.”
But, even if Wright had zoning—it doesn’t—that’s not a way to control land use, now businesses.
“Some of your concerns…you may find the Planning Board doesn’t have the authority to reach into those issues,” Mr. Lyons said.