Rezoning of land provides first step of possible Dollar General in Charles City
For decades, Charles City citizens have lobbied local leaders for commercial business to bring shopping opportunities to the county. An approval for rezoning a portion of land in the center of Charles City provided the first steps of a major retailer coming to the county.
Charles City supervisors approved the rezoning request by Par 5 Development Group after reconvening Thursday morning (Sept. 27) as a part of a continuation of the Sept. 25 meeting.
On Sept. 25, Charles City’s Planning Commission forwarded a favorable 6-0 recommendation to county leaders to rezone a portion of agricultural land to business for the development of a Dollar General. The proposed business will be located on Courthouse Road, just south of Charles City Elementary School. According to Charles City’s Director of Community Development Rachel Chieppa, the rezoning is a portion of the Courthouse Complex plan and falls within guidelines.
Representatives of Par 5 Development said the plan is to construct a 9,100 square foot Dollar General with the intent to provide more shopping opportunities for local citizens. The store will sell general items and have a small grocery section. Cost of the project is budgeted at $1.5 million with Par 5 Development using local contractors to construct the building. If the store comes to fruition, it will provide six to eight full-time jobs.
Charles City supervisors Bill Coada and Gilbert Smith praised the plan (Supervisor Floyd Miles Sr. was not present due to sickness). Coada, however, wanted one issue cleared before giving his final nod on Tuesday.
“Because the proposed entrance and exit [of the Dollar General] falls within the school zone, I want to know how the schools feel about it,” he said, specifically pointing to the lack of visibility of the school zone signs and flashing lights. “I want to make sure they are fine with this.”
School board chairwoman Helen Payne-Jones and superintendent of schools David Gaston was in attendance, saying while they could not give them an answer without consulting other board members. However, with a planned meeting the next night (Sept. 26), school board members blessed the rezoning of the area to business. Supervisors voted the following morning (Sept. 27) in favor of the change.
With the new zoning, Par 5 Development says they are “100 percent” the building will be constructed. A site plan for the facility is currently in development with a public hearing on the store to be set in the future.