For more than an hour Wednesday, Prairieton residents made their case to the Vigo County Area Plan Commission about why they oppose the opening of a Dollar General store in their community.
Dollar General has acquired land south of Prairieton United Methodist Church and had petitioned the commission for rezoning of the property for commercial use. It would be located on the east side of Indiana 63.
In the end, the commission voted in favor of the rezoning from A-1, agricultural, to C-2, community commercial district. Only Mark Clinkenbeard voted against; he is also a Vigo County Commissioner, and county commissioners will have the final say on the rezoning.
The Area Plan Commission’s vote is advisory and nonbinding, although that recommendation will be considered by county commissioners when they meet Tuesday morning.
Residents opposed say the proposed site of the new store is in an area prone to traffic accidents and that such a store could adversely affect property values and might invite crime.
They also are concerned that alcohol will be sold there and the store will be located next to the church.
Among those opposed is Cindy Morgan, who has organized efforts to try to stop the Dollar General from locating in the small community in southern Vigo County. She also is on the board of trustees for the United Methodist Church.
The proposed store would abut the churches’ south property line. Morgan read from a petition opposing the store.
“We urge our elected decision-makers to prioritize safety, environment preservation and the wishes of Prairieton residents who value our rural lifestyle over commercial development. We urge you not just as fellow residents, but as stewards of this land we love so dearly. Stop Dollar General from building in our rural area,” Morgan read from the petition. Others talked about new housing going into Prairieton because people like the quiet, rural setting. “We don’t need another Dollar General so close to us. We need homes,” said one speaker. After the vote, Morgan said, “I’m really disappointed. They don’t give you much time to prepare … We didn’t find out about the rezoning until last week.” She recognizes it’s a first step, and she anticipates a large group will be at county commissioners meeting Tuesday when they are expected to act on the rezoning requests.
“We have people who have a lot vested in that community,” Morgan said.
“We’re not anti-Dollar General. We just don’t want it there. It’s not a good place.”
She said the group collected 193 signatures on a paper petition. More were collected online, although those signing weren’t necessarily from the Prairieton area.
During the meeting, Clinkenbeard pointed out that people need someone to contact if they have issues with a Dollar General.
“I think that’s part of people’s frustrations is that there is no one we know of to call when there’s a problem,” Clinkenbeard said.
Attorney Lou Britton responded that stores do have on-site management.
Britton also stated that Dollar General stores are stores of convenience for those who live close by or drive by. People don’t do their weekly shopping there or go out of their way to shop at a Dollar General. He suggested they don’t draw a lot of extra traffic.
He also said the purpose of the Area Plan Commission is to plan land use, not to pick a particular user for a particular property.
While some of their stores might be close together, that is not the plan commission’s consideration. “That’s a free market consideration,” Britton said.
After the meeting, Clinkenbeard commented on why he voted against the rezoning. “I’ve been down there, I know a lot of people down there and I’ve heard their concerns.”
He said there’s another, bigger issue that needs to be addressed that relates to the appearance of some of the Dollar General stores.
Also Wednesday, the commission voted favorably on two other rezoning requests for Dollar General stores, one at East Springhill Drive and Erie Canal Road and another at Haythorne and Fruitridge avenues. Those rezoning requests also will be considered Tuesday by county commissioners.
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