Tractor Supply store gets green light in Bucksport

The approved construction site of a Tractor Supply Company store, which is expected to open in Bucksport in early 2027.

Neighbors air concerns over traffic and light pollution

Jan. 7, 2026

By Emily Baer

The Bucksport Planning Board voted unanimously to approve a plan for a 22,000-square-foot Tractor Supply Company store, although neighbors voiced concerns about the project.

The board approved Palm Coast Capital, LLC’s application to develop 116 Acadia Highway as a Tractor Supply Company store at its meeting on Jan. 6. Palm Coast Capital, a Florida-based company, is partnering with Connecticut-based Solli Engineering on the project. 

Sitting on 6.5 acres of undeveloped land, the proposed development will include a feed area, a manual pet grooming and washing station, propane storage, and an outdoor display center. The store will also offer equipment rentals and weekly appointments for veterinary services.

“This is very much a prototypical Tractor Supply Company,” said Sam Malafronte of Solli Engineering. 

With 63 proposed parking spaces, including those for trucks with trailers, the exterior of the building will be illuminated by 23-foot lampposts along the periphery of the parking lot. Typically, lights at Tractor Supply Company stores are on one hour before and one hour after closing, developers said. The proposed driveway loops around the building, allowing access for pick ups and deliveries.

Neighbors voiced support for the business but also had concerns at the hearing.

“I’m not at all against business,” said Bucksport resident David Jantti, whose property abuts the proposed development. “But I’m worried about how [this project] is going to affect our life.”

Among Jantti’s chief concerns is the impact of light pollution from parking lot lighting and vehicles passing along the western edge of the Tractor Supply Company property.

“Over the years we’ve made a beautiful backyard,” Jantti said. “We have a garden, we have bees [...] And we’re worried that these lights are going to affect those things. My kids sleep on the second floor and they’ll be able to see the lights out their windows.”

Neighbor Mike Whitten agreed.

“If I’m sitting in my backyard and those [lights] are on, I’m going to be seeing the bulbs,” Whitten said. “Noise is also an issue with the parking lot being right there.”

Another concern is that traffic along Rt 1, particularly in the summer months. “As it is, it sometimes takes 10 or 15 minutes coming [left] out of Nicholson,” Jantti said, referring to a street near the proposed development. He said more traffic to a new store would only increase congestion.

“We recently had the DOT commissioner out to this site,“ said State Rep. Steve Bishop, who added that a new traffic light is expected for downtown Bucksport by 2027. “By the time this building is up and running it will be about the time that we also have a new traffic light system.”

Developers said they have accounted for traffic in their plans.

“We have a dedicated turn lane and 65 feet of dedicated queue capacity,” Malafronte said. “There’s no issue with vehicles getting out of the travel lane to turn left.” 

The new building will take approximately 26 weeks to complete once state and local permits have been approved, Malafronte said. “Hopefully we’ll start construction in May,” he said. He said the company is aiming to open the store in the first quarter of 2027.

Once the final permits come through, the next step is blasting. State and federal regulations do not require abutter notification, but they do require fire marshall notification and town officials said that information would be shared with residents.

The board conditioned its approval on the requirement that the applicant work with staff to mitigate light pollution by considering light shields, fencing, or vegetation to limit the impact of headlights and lamp posts along abuting residential properties.

“Solli has been terrific to work with. When we’ve had other concerns they’ve jumped right on it,” said Bucksport code enforcement officer Luke Chiavelli. “We’ll do everything we can to keep the neighbors happy.”