A proposed rezoning of land for a Dollar General store at the intersection of Fremont and Central Roads was turned down 5-0 Monday night by the Algansee Township Planning Commission.
Zoning Administrator Matt Ashenfelter said nearly 200 people turned out for the meeting which forced it to be moved to the Pine Ridge Church since the Algansee Township Hall can only accommodate about 50 persons.
Petitioner Dan Coville was proposing to rezone two-and-a-half acres at the northeast corner of the intersection from R-2 Residential to C-1 Commercial.
But Ashenfelter said outside of the Dollar General developer and the property owner, none of the nearly 30 people who spoke were in favor of the rezoning.
There are fears a Dollar General store at that location would affect such businesses as the J and L Corner Store and Short’s on the Water.
Many residents expressed their opposition by signing petitions.
With the denial by the Planning Commission, Ashenfelter says the proposed Dollar General store was dead in the water and will not go to the Township Board.
Dollar General already has three Branch County stores in Bronson, Coldwater, and Quincy.
Crain’s Detroit Business reported in July that the discount retailer has doubled the number of Michigan stores to over 500 in the last decade. Many of the stores have been built in rural locations.
