A Family Dollar store is coming to Port Hadlock and some residents are asking why they didn’t know about a change that they say will significantly alter the tenor of their neighborhood.

“There was never anything posted,” said Linda Benesch of the Sunset Meadows subdivision, which sits adjacent to and behind the store site. “There should be some community opportunity to have some feedback on that.”

The store, now under construction, sits on a 1.3-acre lot at 22 Christney Road, at the intersection of Christney Road and Ness’ Corner Road, and across from Burgers Landing. According to staff at the Jefferson County Department of Community Development, plans call for a one-story, 10,500-square-foot building with 30 parking spaces.

“Here’s this big store where there used to be a wooded lot,” said Meg Visger, who lives in the Sunset Meadows subdivision. She described it as a quiet community with many retirees.  

Visger, who works at The Leader, said a key question is why the county decided to approve the store before the sewer was installed. Port Hadlock is in the process of a massive upgrade from septic to sewer, largely to enable development. Noise and traffic impacts are especially concerning, she added. 

Michael Byers, a community development technician with the Jefferson County Department of Community Development said, “The reason there was no public notice was because the project was considered an allowable use per the zoning of the parcel. They applied for a building permit and it was granted.”

“The property in question is designated ‘Rural Village Center’ under the transitional rural zoning for the Urban Growth Area (UGA) until sewer service is available,” said Chelsea Pronovost, administrative services manager for the Jefferson County Department of Community Development. 

“At that time, it will be designated ‘Urban Commercial.’ It is noteworthy that construction falling within the allowed use, under the existing zoning regulations, is not mandatorily subject to public notice.”

Pronovost added, “Prior to the commencement of construction activities, the applicant diligently engaged in several preparatory measures. These included participation in a customer assistance meeting and a pre-application conference, alongside obtaining relevant permits.”

Despite the fact that current zoning allows for the construction of a retail store, Benesch said she feels surprised and uninformed.

“I still feel there should be some level of public input on what kinds of businesses go in,” Banesch said. She said she shares concerns about noise and traffic but is also worried about erosion and light pollution.

“It would have been nice to have some notice and some say,” Visger said. “We’re hoping it’s a nice looking store with nice landscaping.”

Ranked 137 on the Fortune 500 list, Dollar Tree, Inc. is two brands — Dollar Tree and Family Dollar — with 16,000 stores in 48 states and five Canadian provinces.

According to the Family Dollar website, the company places stores “in neighborhoods and ‘food deserts’ where other stores choose not to locate, providing a convenient, close-to-home option where customers can shop for essentials.”