AUGUSTA -- A Tractor Supply Company store approved by the Planning Board on Tuesday will supply the city and state with something other than farming supplies and equipment -- cash.

Money to be paid by the developer of the planned Civic Center Drive store, in order to gain approval from the city and state Department of Transportation, will be saved for planned future road improvements in the increasingly congested area around the Marketplace at Augusta and Augusta Civic Center.

Officials from Greely Associates, developers of the project, agreed to pay the state Department of Transportation $56,000 and to pay the city of Augusta $175 for each vehicle trip into the store at the peak hour of traffic.

The city's share will go into an escrow account for future improvements in the area between Townsend and Leighton Roads. A typical Tractor Supply Company store, according to applications materials on file with the city, gets between 30 and 45 customers at peak hour on weekends. That would result in the city getting between $5,250 and $7,875.

The $56,000 to be paid to the DOT would also be reserved for future improvements, likely as part of a bigger project. A traffic study of the area is currently under way and is expected to include recommendations to help improve traffic flow and safety in the area.

The payment to DOT is in lieu of work the developer had planned to do to widen the road and build a left-turning lane into the Civic Center Drive property, which is near the Augusta Elks Lodge.

"The DOT decided, rather than having us construct a widening, we should make this $56,000 contribution," said Al Palmer of Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers, representing the developers at Tuesday's board meeting. "The state will use that money to improve traffic capacity and safety in this corridor."

Greely Associates plans to build a 19,000 square-foot Tractor Supply Company store with an 18,000-square-foot fenced outdoor display area on 4.3 acres of a 40-acre lot.

Tractor Supply is a retail store catering to full and part-time farmers and ranchers, hobby farmers, rural homeowners and contractors, according to the company's Web site.

It operates more than 750 stores in 40 states, selling items including clothing, equine and pet supplies, tractor/trailer parts and accessories, lawn and garden supplies, sprinkler/irrigation parts, power tools, fencing, welding and pump supplies, and mowers.

Planners unanimously approved the project Tuesday.

"I think it's a wonderful project," board member Paul Harris said. "I think they'll make a very good business partner for the city of Augusta."

Company officials could not immediately be reached Wednesday for details about the store or when it might open.

There are Tractor Supply stores in Skowhegan and Scarborough.

The board's approval is contingent on the project receiving a storm water permit and natural resource protection act permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com