Tractor Supply Company gets green light from town

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Town officials expect ground to be broken within the next week on a new retail farm and ranch store on the North Road.
    According to Houlton Code Enforcement Officer Kevin Tingley, the Tractor Supply Company has received all of its needed permits from the town, state and Department of Environmental Protection to begin construction on its retail facility.
    “Everything is good to go,” Tingley said. “Building permits, state fire marshal permits and DEP permits have all been secured.”
    The new business will be located near PDQ Doors on the North Road. The building will be in the same location of the Houlton Water Company’s expansion project that will bring town water and sewer lines to that section of town.
    The Houlton store will be the second Tractor Supply Company located in Aroostook County. Presque Isle’s store held a grand opening in March 2010. The other Maine locations are Bangor, Augusta, Brunswick, Lewiston, Oxford, Sanford, Scarborough, Skowhegan and Wilton.
    Construction of the 19,097 square foot building is expected to begin as soon as weather permits. In addition to the building, there will be fenced-in outdoor display area.
    “Basically, this store will be identical to the one in Presque Isle,” Tingley said.
    Because the project required such a large area to be paved, Tingley said a water retention pond will need to be created along the back of the property for water runoff.
    According to the company’s website, Tractor Supply Company is the largest retail farm and ranch store chain in the United States. There are more than 1,027 retail stores in 44 states. TSC stores are typically located in rural areas and the outlying suburbs of major cities and range in size from 15,000-24,000 square feet.
    Houlton Town Manager Doug Hazlett has previously stated that the business would bring more than a dozen new jobs to the community.