Norwich – A proposed Family Dollar store is the first development planned at a Norwich Avenue property across from Starr-Wood Food Market recently rezoned for commercial uses.

Windsor based development company Northeast Retail Leasing and Management Co. LLC submitted plans to the city planning office last week seeking permits for the first of what could be two small retail stores at 27, 51 and 59 Norwich Ave. in Taftville. The City Council in March approved a zone change that corrected an old map error that split one of the properties between residential and commercial zones.

Northeast has an option to purchase all three properties from owners Salvatore and Carol Guarnaccia under the name Norwich NE Development LLC. The properties consist of a vacant lot at 59 Norwich Ave., BC Auto repair shop at 51 Norwich Ave. and a six-unit apartment house at 27 Norwich Ave. Both buildings would be demolished for the new project.

The plan for an 8,320-square-foot Family Dollar store and a 42-space parking lot first will have to be reviewed by the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission at its May 5 meeting.

Northeast Retail Leasing principal Michael Sarasin could not be reached for comment on the project. Attorney William Sweeney, who represented the firm during the zone change process, said if the Family Dollar development is approved, there would be room for a second small retail store to the right of the store on Route 12 that would share the parking lot planned to the left of the Family Dollar.

The plans describe the front portion of the property along Route 12 as relatively flat, but the land drops off to the rear toward Hunters Brook. No development would be done in the wetlands area, the wetlands application stated, but construction of the parking lot and a small retaining wall would disturb land within the 100-foot upland area near the wetlands.

c.bessette@theday.com