By Patricia Breakey
Delhi News Bureau
DELHI _ The Delhi Village Planning Board has approved an application to locate a Tractor Supply Co. store at the former Great American store on Main Street in Delhi.
Developer Francis Jenkins purchased the vacant store in August 2008. He negotiated a lease with Tractor Supply Co., but several zoning variances were required before the company began upgrading the building.
The downtown Delhi independent supermarket closed in 2008 after 13 years in business, and the building has remained vacant.
Delhi Mayor Rich Maxey said the village Planning Board approved the application last week. Village Zoning Board of Appeals Clerk Kim Cairns said previously that the area and usage variances were approved in October.
The variances include those to sell agricultural equipment, building supplies and live animals in the downtown business district. The prohibition of fencing in the business district, the number of parking spaces in the lot and the size and number of proposed signs are items that also require area variances.
Jim Thomson, Delaware County Industrial Development Agency executive director, said the Tractor Supply Co. store is scheduled to open May 10.
"The store is good for the community," Maxey said. "The design was planned to conform with the aesthetics of Main Street, and hopefully when the other businesses on Kingston Street do upgrades, they will keep the aesthetics in mind."
Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mary Beth Silano said: "I always like seeing new businesses come in, and this one will be a huge draw in Delhi. It will have a snowball effect and help the other Main Street businesses."
Thomson said the store is expected to generate about $250,000 in sales tax for Delaware County and will create about 20 full- and part-time jobs.
"I'm thrilled about the sales tax,'' Thompson said, ``and this store will draw a lot of second-homeowners from the Andes/Margaretville area."
