FARMINGTON — AutoZone Parts Inc. is seeking town permits to build a retail store on Routes 2 and 4/Wilton Road.

The proposed site next to Burger King and in front of Wal-Mart has been empty for years.

The Appeals Board on Wednesday granted the company a 15-foot variance from the 25-foot side setback required under town ordinances.

Placement of a 7,400-square-foot building and parking areas means a section of the backside corner of the building is too close to the Burger King lot.

“We’re excited to develop the site but the uniqueness of the site brings us to the Appeals Board,” Dustin Roma, project manager and civil engineer with Milone and MacBroom of Portland, said.

Before the company can go before the Planning Board, it needs to acquire the variance, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser said before the meeting. 

The company hopes to start construction this year and potentially open the store by next winter, Roma said. Site testing was done last fall and a design plan started over this winter.

The Farmington store is one of our new ones being planned in Maine, Roma said.  The auto parts and accessory store is based out of Tennessee and has more than 5,000 stores, according to its website.

AutoZone intends to lease the property from W.S. Rockland Properties Inc. of Chestnut Hill, Mass., a representative of Wal-Mart, Roma said.

The property is next to Wal-Mart’s entrance and a set of traffic lights on Routes 2 and 4. The company is negotiating with Wal-Mart to cut through a median strip to access the lot and store.

The company intends to submit a site review application to the Planning Board for review April 13.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net