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Residents, small businesses urge trustees to negotiate with Kroger; guild calls for facts‑based approach to City Market redevelopment
Summary
Public commenters warned that a proposed Kroger store could harm local grocers and urged trustees to negotiate terms that protect local businesses and services. Others urged the board to be pragmatic and fact‑driven in considering incentives tied to the grocery project.
Several speakers during public comment at the Sept. 23 Board of Trustees meeting raised concerns about a proposed Kroger store and urged trustees to balance the potential for new retail investment with protections for local businesses.
Oren LaGree, owner of LaGreece Food Stores, said a new Kroger “will hurt, or possibly close competing businesses, including my own,” and accused larger chains of recruiting local employees and relying on public infrastructure support. LaGree asked trustees to consider whether the community would be better off with reduced services or empty storefronts if smaller grocers cannot compete.
Resident Scott Simmons urged the board to be “solutions oriented” and to negotiate “based on these facts and not speculation.” Simmons said the proposed grocery project would be the largest commercial development in town and that a new store could spur additional commercial investment; he counseled trustees to “work towards a solution with Kroger” if one exists.
Planning Director Marika Koff and other town staff later told trustees the City Market redevelopment is among the large commercial projects the planning department is tracking. Board members and staff said negotiations over tax splits, public‑infrastructure contributions and potential incentives are complex and would be reviewed as part of project‑level discussions.
Why it matters: a large grocery chain can increase consumer choice and attract investment, but residents and independent store owners warned of potential job disruption, recruitment of existing employees, and long‑term effects on local businesses. Trustees said they would seek factual analysis and weigh options rather than take an immediate position.
Next steps: trustees and staff signaled they will continue outreach to residents and to City Market stakeholders and will evaluate fiscal impacts and infrastructure requests as any formal proposal advances through planning and budget review.
