A sign shown Thursday marks the site of the potential development of a generalized retail store at 211 Center Road in Fairfield. The Planning Board voted Monday to approve the application. In the background, a truck passes the Irving service station across the road, near the ramp to Interstate 95. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

FAIRFIELD — The Planning Board voted Monday to approve the application for the development of a generalized retail store at 211 Center Road, also known as state Route 139.

The development, proposed by Connecticut-based Calito Development Group, would be 10,500 square feet. A conditional use permit was approved, with the stipulation that the company would obtain a Maine Department of Transportation driveway entrance permit.

There’s no telling how long the additional permitting process will take, said Michelle Flewelling, Fairfield town manager. A proposed Dunkin’ location at 247 Main St. was approved for a conditional use permit on July 1, and Flewelling said the town office just received a copy of Maine Department of Transportation’s signed approval yesterday.

The town tries to help businesses get through the permitting process as quickly as possible, Flewelling said.

Once the permitting condition is met and the purchase goes through, the development team anticipates that the retail store project will begin within a month and a half, said Steven Govoni, president and senior project engineer at Wentworth Partners & Associates.

“I think they want to start as soon as they can,” Govoni said at the meeting.

While the name of the store has not been disclosed, Dollar General is a large client of Calito Development Group, with multiple locations around Massachusetts and Connecticut. There is no official notice of a store in Fairfield, a spokesperson for Dollar General public relations said in an email.

“At this time, we are currently in due diligence phase for a new Dollar General location in Fairfield, ME,” the spokesperson wrote. “This means we are reviewing the opportunity to add a new store in Somerset County, but we have not committed to doing so just yet. Based on our current timeline, we anticipate having a final decision by late spring 2025.”

The existing parcel of land formerly contained a house and a two-car garage. The land is now vacant except for the garage, which would be demolished during development, Govoni said.

Development is planned primarily on the west side of the property, with the construction of a retail store, required parking, truck turnaround area, loading dock and other pieces required by the client and Fairfield’s ordinances.

Any new business is good for the town of Fairfield, Flewelling said.

“I think anytime a business chooses to locate in Fairfield is a benefit,” Flewelling said. “It serves our residents, or it can serve individuals from the surrounding areas, and any time that there’s a draw into your community from other communities, the hope is that while they’re there, not only are they frequenting the business that was their destination, but maybe they’re stopping and getting gas. Maybe they’re going to stop and get a cup of coffee, maybe they’re going to visit other places while they’re here. So I think having any type of business locate in Fairfield is a wonderful thing.”