By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

GIRARD

City Council voted 7-0 against a series of zoning changes for a Dollar General store on Churchill Road, also known as state Route 304.

Civil-engineering firm Hurley & Stewart LLC of Kalamazoo, Mich., requested on behalf of Capital Growth, Buchalter Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., to rezone five parcels from residential to commercial.

The store would have replaced a current Dollar General location on the same road. Ryan Gillepsie of Hurley & Stewart said the new store would be larger with an expanded produce section.

At the request of council, the firm had made a series of aesthetic changes to its original design. Those changes included a pitched rather than flat roof, additional windows and three brick walls, Gillepsie said at Monday’s council session.

Councilwoman-at-large Lily Martuccio, chairwoman of council’s economic-development committee, initially spoke in favor of the zoning changes.

Martuccio, however, ended up voting no along with the rest of council after her failed attempt to rescind her motion for a vote on the issue.

Council members expressed concern about stormwater drainage and traffic in the area of the proposed store.

Resident Chuck Doran argued against the zoning changes, adding that officials should focus on attracting business’ to the city’s downtown rather than on replacing residential areas.

“I don’t have a problem with anybody selling property in this town, trying to better their lot that’s great, but at what cost?” he said. – “Is that our plan going forward? Let’s just spread out where we want to? If someone comes in, and they’ve got enough dollars in their pocket, let ’em do it?”

John Latell said a new convenience store would be a positive development for the city. His father owns the property in question and had hoped to sell it.

“You can’t find milk in Girard right now, guys,” he said. “We need this place for Girard.”

A Santisi’s IGA grocery store, in downtown Girard on North State Street, closed last month after 75 years in business.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th, said council plans to revisit proposals for the Dollar General.

“We’re not driving any business out of town,” Grumley said. “This isn’t the end of it.”