Commission hears Dollar General market plan, defers vote after notification and traffic concerns

Planning staff presented case P‑24‑12 on Sept. 11: Retzen Companies seeks to rezone a 2.75‑acre portion of a larger parcel from A2 (Agricultural General) to B2 (Business General) with proffers limiting certain uses and specifying building materials and lighting. Staff noted the property fronts Route 460 but proffers and plans would locate driveway access on Clay Street Road; VDOT reviewed the concept and indicated no objection to the zoning action, with site‑plan review to address any needed turn lanes.

Applicant attorney Kerry Hutcherson and representatives from Retzen said the proposal is for a Dollar General market and emphasized local economic benefits. "Each one of these stores that we develop for Dollar General represents over 1000000 dollars of investment in the property and the community locally," Hutcherson said. Engineer Seth Epperson told commissioners his preliminary trip generation analysis shows about "53 vehicles per hour in the peak hour" (about 27 entering and 27 leaving) and roughly 386 vehicles per day; commissioners and several residents questioned those counts and expressed safety concerns about access to fast regional traffic on Route 460. Resident Samantha Jeter told the commission she did not move to the rural area for convenience-oriented development: "How much has corporate America ruined our small towns, and how much more are we going to stand for?" The commission opened the public hearing to allow comments but—because staff noted that not all required neighbors had been properly notified—took no vote and directed notices to be sent; the case will be advertised for the Oct. 9 meeting for a formal vote.