A general store is often the heart of a community, where folks gather and reflect on the local goings-on around town.
The Somerset Center Store was no different. Built in 1890 at the intersection of Rts. 20 and 231, the store was a bustling local hub offering gas and groceries until it was destroyed in May 2020 when a tractor-trailer and dump truck collided, forcing the former into the store and the latter into a tree and neighboring house. The accident occurred during the construction of the adjacent roundabout. Now, the store could be coming back.
Last month, J.M Gingery, a member of the Somerset Center Store, LLC, applied for a special exception and zoning text amendment on behalf of landowner David McElheney as part of an effort to reconstruct the store. The store would go back into its former footprint on the 1 acre, C-1 zoned property, and consist of a classic country-store facade with a covered porch and refrigerated beverage cooler addition. The interior would feature modern convenience store enhancements.
Due to the configuration of the lot, a special exception is needed for the parking area setbacks contained within the Orange County Zoning Ordinance which specify a minimum of 15 feet from any front property line and 10 feet from any side or rear property line. Proposed parking for the business does not meet the setback requirements, but according to engineer Lee Baines, has been located in areas that allow the best access and traffic flow.
In addition, the application needs a text amendment to reduce the building setback requirements which stipulate 300 feet from Rts. 20 and 231 in the Somerset area. Because the building was not replaced within two years of being demolished, it lost its grandfathered status and has to meet the requirements of the current code.
County planning and zoning manager and zoning administrator Josh Frederick said the amendment is necessary to permit redevelopment of the Somerset Center Store. He said the parcel itself is not even 300 feet deep. The amendment would reduce the setback to 3 feet from Rt. 20 and 15 feet from Rt. 231. A similar amendment was made years ago when the 100 feet setback from Rt. 3 rendered 60-80 lots unbuildable in Lake of the Woods. It was reduced to 50 feet. The Orange County Planning Commission voted last week to recommend the amendment for approval to the board of supervisors.
“I can tell you every single person I’ve spoken to in our community would love to have the store back,” District 1 planning commissioner Jason Capelle said. “A lot of us have fond memories of bringing our kids there. There’s a lot of great memories and I was really sad when the other store [was destroyed.]”
Capelle said there have only been three accidents at the neighboring intersection since the roundabout was finished. Those consisted of collisions with two deer and a raccoon.
“I’m super in favor of this [application],” he said.
Both the special exception and zoning text amendment will be the subject of a public hearing during the Dec. 2 board of supervisors meeting. The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in the public safety building board meeting room. Meeting materials are available online at https://orangecova.portal.civicclerk.com/event/453/files/agenda/942. The special exception was not referred to the planning commission.
