RINGGOLD, Ga. – Neighbors didn’t want a big company opening shop in their rural community, so the Catoosa County Commission rejected a rezoning request from Dollar General on Tuesday night.
Bobby Howard, the company’s Georgia contractor, asked elected officials to change the zone of about 2 acres in the southwest portion of the county. The property is zoned C-2, which allows the company to build on up to 5,000 square feet. But Dollar General officials want a 9,100-square-foot store, requiring a C-1 zone.
A group of residents don’t want the store, located at the corner of Burning Bush and Three Notch roads. It would sit across from two traditional country stores: The Front Porch Fresh Market and Napier Feed Store.
“We should embrace the idea of preserving what makes this part of the county a little bit unique,” said Jim Webb, who argued the commission should keep franchises on busy streets.
Catoosa County Commission Chairman Keith Greene, left, and Commissioner Bobby Winters sit during a previous commissioners’ meeting. On Aug. 22, the county’s planning commission rejected the request. The county commissioners did the same Tuesday, voting 4-0 against the move. Commissioner Bobby Winters abstained from the vote. At the end of the meeting, he ripped the other elected officials for rejecting Dollar General’s request.