Warrenton board tables Dollar General site plan after residents cite traffic, truck and safety concerns

The Warrenton Board of Aldermen on July 2 voted to table consideration of two related measures for a proposed Dollar General at East Highway 47 and Isabella after multiple residents described traffic and safety concerns.

Residents who live in nearby Country Meadows and Andorra Estates urged the board to oppose the project’s current design or require the store entrance to be off Highway 47, not Isabella. Becky Cullum said, "I personally am not a fan of this DG location and plan at all," and asked the board to take neighborhood objections into account. Melissa, another resident, told the board the existing two‑lane Isabella road is narrow and already strained by local traffic, and warned that semis and delivery trucks would make turning and visibility worse.

At least one speaker, Jesse Denlinger, said an online search showed the retailer operates a large delivery fleet and asked how heavy trucks would safely access the site: "they have a fleet of over 3,000 tractor trailers they use to deliver their goods," he said, and questioned where trucks would turn and stage.

Board members said they had received numerous emails and public input on the application and raised infrastructure and safety questions that they wanted staff to address before final action. An alderman moved to table bill 38‑24 (the site plan) and bill 39‑24 (the preliminary and final plat) to allow further discussion; both motions passed on roll call, each recorded as a 6‑0 vote.

The board did not take a final vote to approve or deny the Dollar General application at the meeting. The tabling action means the proposals will return to the board for further review after staff and board members can examine safety, access and infrastructure issues and, if needed, seek responses from the applicant or state agencies about Highway 47 access.