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July 20, 2011

Thomaston Walmart clears hurdle

By The Mainebiz News Staff

A proposed Walmart in Thomaston is one step closer to reality, now that town officials have signed off on its economic impact study.

The Thomaston Planning Board yesterday unanimously ruled that the 150,000-square-foot retail store would have no "undue adverse impact" on the region, according to the Herald Gazette. Developer Greely Associates can now seek final approval from the planning board and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The impact study was required under the state's Informed Growth Act, which at the time the store was proposed required all retail developments of 75,000 square feet or more to complete a study. That law has since become optional.

The study, performed by Planning Decisions Inc., found that the Walmart would create an additional 85 jobs in Thomaston and generate $440,000 in annual property tax revenue. However, it also found that it could eventually lead to the closure of an existing grocery store in the area. The new store will have about 400 employees, many of whom will be transferred from the Walmart location in Rockland, which will close if the Thomaston store is built. Greely could begin construction as early as next spring if the project receives final approval.

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