Meeting set in Columbia on Dollar General plan
A second “town hall meeting” will be held Wednesday in Columbia on a proposal to build a Dollar General store in the community.
“The meeting is open to all interested parties – you do not have to be a Columbia resident to protest Dollar General’s plan – just be concerned about having this low-end store built in the historic town of Columbia,” Leslie Davis of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce wrote in a letter to Tuolumne County residents to rally support for the Stop Dollar General campaign. “The purpose of the meeting is to explain all that we can do to convince the county not to allow Dollar General to build yet another store in Tuolumne County – they are already in Jamestown and in Soulsbyville.”
Wednesday’s meeting will be at 6 p.m. in Faith Hall at the Church of the 49ers, 11155 Jackson St. (Parrotts Ferry Road and Jackson Street). The first meeting on Aug. 18 drew about 120 people, Davis said.
The plan for the 9,100-square-foot grocery/variety store on Parrotts Ferry Road at Howser Lane on the corridor leading into Columbia State Historic Park is in the design review period. Through Sept. 21, members of the public may submit letters and emails to the county planner in charge. In letters or emails, Davis said, the subject line should be Dollar General and writers should include their names, addresses and phone numbers.
Letters should be mailed before Sept. 20 to Alex Guilbert, Planner, Tuolumne County Community Resources Agency, 2 S. Green St., Sonora 95370, or emailed to aguilbert@co.tuolumne.ca.us.
The Initial Study and Negative Declaration for the project are posted at www.co.tuolumne.ca.us/documentcenter/view/5355. Included are the architect’s rendering of the building and landscaping, etc.
After the review period, the proposal will go before the county Planning Commission. Whether it is approved or denied by the commission, it can be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. No hearing dates have been scheduled.
This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 9:22 AM with the headline "Meeting set in Columbia on Dollar General plan."