The new Dollar General planned for the northeast corner of Queen Road and Plymouth LaPorte Trail received approvals from the Plymouth Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals Tuesday evening.
The Plan Commission approved the Dollar General property owner, Lawrence Katz, and HDI Investments of Nappanee’s request to create a two-lot subdivision out of a 4.1-acre parcel at 7794 Queen Road. This was simply an internal adjustment of the current property line, moving it eastward.
The second request, seeking a waiver of the sidewalk requirements, prompted extensive discussion among Plan Commission members. The city’s ordinance requires the installation of sidewalks with all new developments. Some Plan Commission members questioned why the city has a sidewalk requirement, yet the commission frequently grants waivers, including those with conditions, to developers.
City Engineer Dan Sellers, a member of the Plan Commission, suggested at least including a stipulation that, if any development occurs in the area, the Dollar General building owner would be required to install the sidewalks at that time or grant the city an easement to install them with additional development.
Ty Adley, the City Plan Director, explained that the Oak Drive waivers are different from those for the new Dollar General location. The city is currently seeking grant funds to install sidewalks on Oak Drive, and a couple of waivers were granted, with an easement provision that allows the city to install sidewalks without purchasing property. Adley mentioned that the Queen Road location isn’t expected to see significant development for many years.
The Dollar General representative who attended the meeting noted additional maintenance issues with unused sidewalks, including grass growing on them and snow and ice removal.
There were no comments during the public hearing, and the Plymouth Plan Commission voted 7 to 3 to grant the waiver. The three members voting against the waiver were Mark Gidley, Randy Longanecker, and Angie Rupchoch-Schafer.
Members of the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals heard a request to permit a pole sign for the new Dollar General, rather than a monument sign, which is allowed in residential zoning districts.
After showing several signs already located at the intersection and hearing no opposition during the public hearing, the Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved the request to install a pole sign at the southwest corner of the property, meeting the city's size standards.
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