Town Approves Permit for King Kullen's Expansion

A zone change permit was approved by the town board, which will allow King Kullen in St. James to expand.

The zoning petition that was approved will change a .

The permit was needed for the expansion, which has been contested by members of the VFW Post 395 in St. James. During the June 23 public hearing, numerous VFW members of spoke, stating the expansion would encroach on the VFW’s land.

“We do not oppose King Kullen expanding their store,” said Frank Todaro, commander of VFW Post 395 following the June hearing. “Our concern is the way that they will expand the store in relation to our property … we’ll be crowded in and we feel that we’ll be crowded out."

Also during the June public hearing, locals voiced concerns over increased traffic they feel the expansion would bring to the area.

“When you have a problem right now with the store the size it is I think by expanding the store it’s going to exasperate the problem,” said St. James local Jim Riley during the June hearing.

King Kullen's plan is to expand the location by 4,355 square feet.