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Council narrows moratorium to allow dollar‑store infill; developer urges using vacant Rite Aid building
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 1-43-2025 to amend a moratorium so dollar-store infill in existing vacant buildings is permitted while keeping a moratorium on new construction; a local developer urged the change during public comment.
Councilman Heideck introduced Resolution 1-43-2025 to amend Ordinance 1-24-2021, narrowing the city’s moratorium that had restricted various retail types. The amended resolution allows dollar‑store infill in existing vacant buildings while maintaining the moratorium on new construction and permitting. Council voted to suspend reading rules and adopted the resolution that same evening.
During the public-comment period before the legislative session, Dave Thompson, owner of Monogram Development, urged the council to modify the moratorium so developers could reuse vacant storefronts — specifically citing the city’s empty Rite Aid building at the corner of Wooster and 30 First Street. Thompson said reusing an existing building would preserve property values, provide jobs and avoid adding new retail sites.
Council members proceeded with the formal resolution on the agenda and adopted it following a roll call. The resolution is written to permit ‘‘infill’’ uses (re-occupancy of vacant structures) for dollar‑store formats but continues to prohibit new construction of those formats while the moratorium remains in effect for other cases.
