Applicant proposes 3‑acre Dollar General Marketplace on state highway; planning staff flags site requirements

Jack McGowan, on behalf of the Francis D. Art estate, requested rezoning of a 3-acre portion of a 436.93-acre holding from A1 to Business for a Dollar General Marketplace and to rezone the remaining 10.5 acres on that side of the road from A1 to A2 to bring the overall property into compliance with county regulations.

Planning staff advised the commission the 3-acre store site would require an engineered site plan with parking and stormwater measures. Staff said the proposed building size is 10,640 square feet, which would trigger a stormwater-management plan because the project exceeds the 5,000-square-foot threshold for such plans. Staff listed minimum site requirements: a minimum of 43 parking spaces including at least two handicap spaces; driveway and access permits; paved driveways; perimeter landscaping; and an approved private septic system by the health department or other approved sanitary service. Staff also said an EPD land-disturbing permit would be required for disturbance over one acre.

Staff noted the business zoning is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan designation (rural conservation) but acknowledged the parcel sits on a state highway where businesses are often located. Staff said there are no other business-zoned parcels in the immediate area but that two lawfully nonconforming businesses — identified in the staff remarks as a nearby country store and Zeb’s restaurant — operate nearby. The planning presentation indicated neighbors in a broad area were notified; no formal opposition was recorded in the excerpt, though commissioners observed the item could draw public interest.

The transcript shows discussion and staff detail but records no final vote on the rezoning in the provided portion of the meeting; the item was placed on the June 17 public hearing docket.