The Columbus City Council gave its approval Tuesday night to a developer’s request to re-zone a property from a general agricultural to a highway commercial district, paving the way for construction to begin on a larger Dollar General store to replace the one at 930 Tuscaloosa Road.
Councilmen unanimously granted the request at the recommendation of the Columbus Planning Commission.
The 1.37-acre parcel is located at 801 Tuscaloosa Road. Mitch King, of Mike Rozier Construction Company, said the current 7,100-square-foot store will be replaced by a 12,480-square-foot store in the new location.
The planning commission determined in its finding of fact that keeping the property zoned as general agricultural “denotes a holding pattern,” also noting that surrounding properties have recently been re-zoned as highway commercial. Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box, who represents the ward, acknowledged those land use alterations.
“Due to the changing neighborhood and our need for additional retail, I welcome (the re-zoning),” Box said. “(The retailer has) been a good citizen (and has) a lot of places in Columbus and Lowndes County.”
A start date for construction is not known, and future plans for the old location have not been announced.
According to the company’s website, there are 10 Dollar General stores in Columbus and Lowndes County.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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