County commissioners have approved a rezoning request for a future Dollar General site.

With Commissioners Matthew Swain and Mike Barbee dissenting, a request by Teramore Development to rezone a 1.5-acre tract of land in the Aquadale community from R-20 to Neighborhood Business was approved 5-2 Monday night.

The organization plans to build a Dollar General on the property at the intersection of Little Street and N.C. Highway 138.

“We are the preferred developer for Dollar General,“ said attorney Clint Cogburn, who explained the organization plans to use a vegetative buffer, fencing and parking lot entry from Little Street to minimize adverse effects to residents of the surrounding neighborhood.

“There will be no parking behind the store because of the adjacent residences,” said Cogburn, “and we plan to use a monument-type sign. We believe the business will benefit and serve the community.”

Joanne Almond, who owns adjacent property, expressed her opposition to the proposed development.

“I have no objection to a Dollar General,” said Almond, “but I do object to it being located in a residential section. There are more suitable areas in Aquadale where it would create less congestion.”

Almond also expressed concerns that the store’s proximity to Aquadale Elementary School would cause traffic problems. She said she had concerns with the appearance of Dollar General stores in other areas.

“I was in Troy today, and the Dollar General store there was dirty,” she said, observing that trash and recycling receptacles outside the store were overflowing.

Cogburn countered that Dollar General stores do not normally generate additional traffic, and that Almond’s concerns over appearance would be addressed.

“Our stores are located in areas where we capture existing traffic,” he said, “and we have standards for appearance as well.”

Cogburn noted that while none of the Dollar General stores currently in Stanly County have been developed by Teramore, the company has built three stores each in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, with two more under development, and a total of 24 stores in North Carolina.