Fifth Dollar General store approved

Commissioners approved a fifth Dollar General for the county on Highway 19 south across from the Rock Store during their Aug. 29 meeting. The fourth Dollar General store is still being built on Highway 19 north across adjacent to SudSations at the intersection of McKinley Road and the highway. Commissioners approved rezoning of the property from A-R to C-2 in order for the free-standing commercial discount store to be developed at the intersection of Highway 19 south and Highway 109 west. The property, owned by James and Bernice Stinchcomb, consists of 15.24 acres but the portion to be rezoned is only 2 acres. The request for rezoning was approved with several conditions, including a monument-type sign instead of a sign on a pole, an all-brick building and gooseneck lighting on the exterior of the building. ’I’m a business man and you want to have a business where there is traffic,’ said commissioner Tim Guy. ‘The layout, plans and everything is well engineered and top of the line. It’s going to be the best looking Dollar General in Pike County.’Several citizens spoke in opposition to the proposed store during the public hearing, including Ben and Tami Williams, Cheryl Cannon, Becky Watts, Linda Jett, Ed Petterson and Odel Strickland. Most of those in opposition noted that the location for the store is dangerous due to a major curve in Highway 19 to the south and a hill that restricts view to the north. ’The traffic on Highway 19 is heavy and fast and many people use Highway 109 as a cut through,’ said resident Ben Williams. ‘I oppose this location on the basis of safety. It’s just dangerous.’Many in opposition noted that the four other stores in the county should be sufficient for shoppers.’There is a Dollar General that is three miles from the new location and I don’t want to think that we are that lazy that we can’t drive three miles to the store,’ said Cheryl Cannon. ‘If this does go in, traffic will be horrendous and we really don’t need five Dollar General stores in Pike County.’Linda Jett said she opposes the location as she would be able to see the store from her front porch. Eddie Petterson said he has lived across from the proposed location for the store for 21 years and has seen many awful wrecks at the intersection of the highways. ’The Rock Store has been there for more than 100 years and it serves an important purpose in our community,’ he said. ‘I don’t want a Dollar General in my back yard. Would you like one in your back yard?’Several spoke in favor of the project during the public hearing, stating that it meets county requirements and will help the community.’This property sits between two state highways and across the street from a gas station on a major commercial corridor of Pike County and as you know it is in the overlay district,’ said Teramore Development’s attorney Bill Nijem. ‘DOT access has already been improved. This will increase sales tax, ad valorem tax nd probably the most important thing is that it’s consistent with the county’s requirements for development.’ Tax revenue was mentioned several times by those in favor. ’I’ve been in Pike County for more than 45 years and I think this will be an asset to the county and to the citizens because it will generate revenue for the county and for the school system which will be a relief for taxpayers,’ said Donnie Stinchcomb. ‘It’s going to be a very nice facility, a pretty building and great landscaping. I believe it will be an asset to the county and also to the community.’