Board rejects Dollar Tree store proposed for Codman Square

The Zoning Board of Appeal on Tuesday rejected a Dollar Tree store proposed for 493 Washington St. in Codman Square after aides to Mayor Walsh and City Councilor Andrea Campbell said that it could cause traffic problems and, besides, there's already a Dollar Tree a mile away on Talbot Avenue.

The board's unanimous rejection was "without prejudice," which means Yijie Dai, who owns the currently vacant building, can come back in a year with another proposal. Dai bought the building in 2016, when it was the home of the Full Life Gospel Center. The church moved out this past April.

Several residents dragged themselves to City Hall during Tuesday's snowstorm to support the discount store, including Daniel Bartlett of Bicknell Street.

Bartlett cited the fact the store would have a small parking lot, which would let him drive into Codman Square to buy the supplies he needs as a landlord without having to schlep stuff around.

But also, he said, "My mother would kill me if I didn't come in, because she's probably the biggest Dollar Tree supporter in the country."

He said when he visits her in Florida, she takes him to her local Dollar Tree and when he told her Dollar Tree might move in near his home in Dorchester, "she went crazy happy" about the idea.

No residents rose to object to the store, but aides to Walsh and Campbell said people did oppose the proposal at meetings of nearby neighborhood associations.

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