Dollar General gets key variance to open in newly created residential zone in Rochester

ROCHESTER − A proposal for a Dollar General in the city moved a step closer to approval when it received a needed variance to place the business on land recently zoned residential.

On Wednesday, Attorney John Arnold, representing SWD Property Management of Portsmouth, successfully made the case to grant a variance for the 10,700 square foot retail business, to be located at 25 Old Dover Road before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

SWD Property Management owns the property, which already has a 70,500-square-foot, 10-unit building on the 8.5-acre site. The variance was required to allow a retail operation in a residential zone.

City Planner Shanna Saunders had not recommended granting the variance, based on the city's contention that doing so could alter the character of what is currently in the area and that it could cause harm if granted.

Rochester's City Council in February approved changing some sites currently zoned as industrial to allow for residential development. In addition to the former Rochester Department of Public Works property, at 45 Old Dover Road, five other Old Dover Road parcels were rezoned, including the potential Dollar General site.

At the time, Saunders said the businesses already located in the Old Dover Road area were grandfathered for commercial/industrial uses, but added if they sought an expansion of use, a ZBA variance would be required.

Currently there is a Sherwin-Williams paint retail store, a dance studio, a jiu jitsu studio, a golf simulator/practice location, some manufacturing facilities and some office spaces in the larger building already on site.

Arnold said the Dollar General would go on a two-acre site which he said was not suitable for housing. He said he understood the intent of the rezoning but felt the 15-acre DPW property was better suited to place housing.

"We came to Rochester about 10-years-ago," said Steve Dumont, principal of SWD Properties. "We bought the old Sherman Williams building and we bought the Gonic Mill and the land around it. We have 20 acres by the mill that we are trying to develop as housing. I am in favor of housing, just not here."

With the variance granted, the Dollar General project can now present its application to the Planning Board.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dollar General gets variance for store on Old Dover Road, Rochester NH