CUMMINGTON — A large retail development project is currently being proposed on approximately 7.8 acres in Cummington.

Cummington DG Series LLC, operating under Lisciotti Development Corp., of Leominster, is hoping to construct a 9,100-square-foot retail store with 28 parking spaces at the corner of Route 9 and Fairgrounds Road.

The company has submitted a proposal to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special permit to proceed with construction, and a Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Community House. The Conservation Commission has also scheduled a public hearing to be held on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m., also at the Community House.

According to a letter sent to the ZBA by Matthew Bombaci, of Bohler Engineering, “a small portion of the 7.82 acres property is proposed to be utilized for the development, with the vast majority of the site to be left in a natural state or revegetated from its previously developed condition.”

The proposal does not name the retailer, but many residents are concerned that the construction may be for a Dollar General Store. Lisciotti is proposing a Dollar General Store on Routes 5 and 10 in South Deerfield under the company name “South Deerfield DG, LLC,” as well as a similar proposal to construct a 9,300-square-foot retail space in Bernardston.

Cummington resident and attorney Katy Eiseman said given the “DG” in both of the project names, and square footage that is typical of that retailer, it isn’t much of a stretch to make that speculation.

If this is the case, Eiseman says she does not believe that a Dollar General Store is in keeping with the character of the town, and it is not the kind of development that would benefit Cummington.

“Many people I have talked to moved to Cummington because we don’t have big chain stores and our businesses are small and locally owned,” she said. “We are concerned because the proposal does not really match the character of our town.”

Eiseman said she believes that heading away from locally centered business, and embracing the “cheapest and most expedient means of development” is shortsighted, and in the long run detrimental to the town.

“I think it would drive people out of town and keep others from wanting to live here,” she said. “I see it as a sign of surrender and desperation.”

The town’s zoning bylaws prohibit construction projects that are “detrimental to the public good or to the character of the town.”

In his letter to the ZBA, Bombaci notes that the plan is “consistent with the previously operated commercial uses on the subject property with the current proposal having been designed in consideration of existing resource areas present on same.”

According to Eiseman, previous commercial activities on the property operated out of a building that was constructed in the 1930s and built for apple storage. She said that while there has been no activity on the property since approximately 2011, in the past, it had been home to things like a video store, a day care, a post office and most recently a pizza shop.

Eiseman also noted that the proposed building site is home to a species that is endangered in Massachusetts.

“The entire parcel is core habitat for the American Bittern, which is listed as an endangered species and is known to nest there,” she said. “They use the whole property.”

Allan Douglas of the Conservation Commission said that all abutters have been notified of the proposed project.

“These guys have done a pretty good job with their notice of intent,” Douglas said. “I assume that people will express any concerns they might have at the hearing.”

Plans for the proposed project can be viewed in the office of the Select Board or on the Town’s website at www.cummington-ma.gov.