Rezoning request made for new Dollar General project at western city limits of Gerald

By Linda Trest, Staff Writer
Posted 5/17/23

The Gerald Planning and Zoning Commission was presented with a petition for a change to the zoning code at their May 2 meeting.

Glenwood Equities, LLC from Chesterfield was listed as the …

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Rezoning request made for new Dollar General project at western city limits of Gerald

Posted

The Gerald Planning and Zoning Commission was presented with a petition for a change to the zoning code at their May 2 meeting.

Glenwood Equities, LLC from Chesterfield was listed as the petitioner with Raymond Pracht as the property owner.

The address of the property, which is currently a vacant lot, is 800 W. Fitzgerald Ave. A plan for a new Dollar General building accompanied the rezoning request.

The property is currently zoned as R-1, single family residential. The request is to rezone the property as B-1, business or commercial.

After study the property and plans, the commission recommended the Board of Aldermen approve the request with the following conditions:

1. The city limits be extended in all directions per our previous recommendation

2. The reduced speed limits be moved out further to the new city limits to reduce speed and increase safety approaching the area

3. Extending the “School Zone” warning out further

4. Due to serious traffic safety concerns the plans must be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer

The property in question lies one block west of the Gerald Elementary School, just west of Oak Street.

Eastbound motorists approaching Gerald crest hill on a curve and quickly encounter the reduced speed zone at the city limits and then a further reduction of speed at the school zone. The proposed entrance to the parking lot for the new store would be another possible traffic distraction in that spot.

Thursday, May 11, the aldermen agreed to move forward with expanding the city limits through annexation. They also scheduled a public hearing on the rezoning issue for Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m.

The Planning and Zoning Commission proposed extending the city limits in all directions several months ago. They asked the board to extend the city limits to west out to County Line Road, to the north to Wheeler Road and to the south to Antioch Road. The eastern boundary would be one mile from the center line of the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Old Highway 50.

The aldermen asked Terris Cates, the city engineer to begin work on the project.

Linda Trest is a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.