Scottville ZBA approves zoning variance for new Dollar General Market

March 13, 2023

Scottville ZBA approves zoning variance for new Dollar General Market

SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) granted a zoning variance Monday on property that is planned to be a new Dollar General Market (also called DG Market). Builder Jason Raleigh of AR Engineering addressed the ZBA. The property is located at 119 S. Main St., on the northeast corner of Main and Second streets, directly east of the present Dollar General. It currently is owned by Holden Home Emporium and used as a warehouse. Previously, it was a car dealership for several decades. 

Scottville zoning requires a building set-back of 25-feet from the property line on frontages. Because that property is located at a corner, both the west and south side of the proposed building would be considered frontage. Raleigh said the west side of the building, which would face Main Street, would meet the requirement but asked for a variance to have a 15-feet set-back on the south side. The current building sits only a few feet from the property line. The ZBA unanimously approved the request (the Scottville ZBA consists of the seven elected commissioners with the mayor presiding as chair), but meets separately from the commission. 

Raleigh said he was also the builder of the current Scottville Dollar General about 15 years ago. The proposed new building will be 12,500 square feet, 3,500 square feet larger than the current building. The current building would be vacated and offered for lease or for sale, he said. City Manager Jimmy Newkirk said there are already some interested parties in that building. 

Raleigh said Dollar General Market is an upscale version of the regular Dollar General stores and is a new concept for the corporation. He said the new store would offer fresh produce and meats, along with more merchandise. He said there are few like it in Michigan, with another being built north of North Muskegon on Whitehall Road in Muskegon County. 

“They studied this market and saw that there was a gap in those services here,” he said. 

Following the meeting, Mayor Marcy Spencer said the new Dollar General Market would be a welcome addition to downtown Scottville. 

“Downtown Scottville has not had a grocery store since Schoenberger’s Market closed in 2005,” Spencer said. “Since that time, whenever citizens have been surveyed about what services are missing in Scottville, the lack of a grocery store has always been on the top of the list. While this may not be a full scale market, it will certainly fill a much needed gap in our city and the surrounding area.” 

Raleigh said the building demolition will be extensive. In 2021 the floor of the oldest portion of the building, located on the east side, collapsed. He said the ground will require much environmental work as well. He said once that work is complete, construction should take about four months. 

 

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Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks