Residents of Prairieton in Vigo County met Wednesday night to speak against a new Dollar General being built in their area.
In the basement of the Prairieton United Methodist Church, the property next to the potential store site, about 40 people gathered to share their concerns with the developer and his attorney.
Cindy Morgan, a trustee member of the church, said the community doesn’t need another Dollar General nearby as there are two within a four-mile radius.
“There's other things that we could use,” she said. “That land could be subdivided into residences. We would much prefer to have homes and families. We need houses.”
Morgan also said they object to having easy access to discount alcohol right next to their church and have concerns about Dollar General’s business model, the lack of sidewalks leading to the store on such a busy road, and the eyesore it would cause for new homes built behind the property.
Those in attendance were disappointed that the site developer was unable to answer many of their questions.
When asked why the corporation decided to build in such close proximity to other existing stores, Charles Overton, a partner with The Overland Group, a commercial real estate developer, said only the marketing department knows.
“Maybe they need another store to release some of the store sales somewhere else,” he said. “I don't go into the…I don't do the details of that. I just get a list of them. And I kind of know how it works, (only) because I've been doing it for so long.”
The land it would be built on is privately-owned farmland. The community became aware of the development after seeing signs along Highway 63 inviting public comment at the area planning commission meeting. At that meeting, it was recommended the land be rezoned.
It then went to the county commissioners who tabled it until community members could have some of their concerns answered.
The Vigo County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. to decide whether to rezone the space for the store.
