LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors denied the most recent presentation for a proposed Dollar General store in Middletown by a 3 to 2. By that narrow margin, the board determined Dollar General had not followed all aspects of the Middletown Area Plan (MAP).
The document under review by the supervisors was a Findings of Fact in regards to the proposal. Findings of Fact ensure that a plan complies with all ordinances of the county and community.
In this case, the board faulted Cross Development — the company responsible for laying out the plans — on size and exterior appearance.
The decision came after a year of approval and denial votes related to the proposed Dollar General. Tina Scott, District 4 Supervisor, reviewed the violations in the Finding of Facts and made the board aware of adjustments that must be completed by Cross Development.
The company has 45 days to return with changes.
“I do not believe that putting a Dollar General in a community will destroy a community,” Scott said. “We were told we need to vote with our hearts, and I think we need to very careful because if we always voted with our hearts, I know my votes will always be to make sure that the people in Lake County would be fed.”
She was clear that from what the board has heard from community members and from review of the general plan there are aspects of the store that do not follow the MAP. But Scott also pointed out there are aspects of the MAP that are vague and unspecific. She urged a review of the MAP to clarify community rules.
The supervisor for District 3, Jim Steele, also said the Dollar General does not follow the MAP. He pointed out that the area plan is in place precisely because Middletown has a goal for community appearance.
“In my vision and my view of what they are saying in regards to the area plan and going forward with what they have, this (Dollar General) does not fit that,” Steele said.
Moke Simon serves as Supervisor for Middletown. He drew some opposition from the crowd for apparent leniency toward the addition of a Dollar General, butsaid that he has always been a Middletown man and no building place in the area is going to change that.
“Our community is made by the people, not by buildings. Middletown is beautiful, it is beautiful because of the people,” Simon said. “Sometimes when we move forward, things have to happen in the best way for the entire picture and I understand that some people don’t like the Dollar General or The Cross Development, but I still stand by the Findings of Fact.”
To bring updated Findings of Fact for the Dollar General before the 45 day period, a special meeting will be held on May 31 at 9 a.m. to look over and approve or deny what the county staff has put together.
