South Vienna residents push back against Dollar General location

Dozens of South Vienna residents are protesting a proposed Dollar General store at the intersection of Ohio 54 And Ohio 40.

Signs that say “No Dollar General” can be found on nearly every street within the village — but naysayers say that it’s not that they are opposed to the store moving in, but they are opposed to the possible location.

They say the company has refused to listen to their feedback on the issue.

This week, dozens of residents told the News-Sun that the intersection is extremely dangerous, and adding a store there would only create more problems.

“I have been a resident of this village since 1977 and I have watched that corner with more traffic — get more dangerous every year,” said Martha Wren, who is the head of the Concerned Citizens, a group fighting back against the proposed development.

In a matter of two days, Wren gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition in opposition to the store location.

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Wren and other residents said the intersection is very busy with semi trucks, farm traffic, commuters and estimated increased bus and parent traffic with Northeastern Local Schools constructing new buildings in the village in the coming years.

“For some reason, they’re just dead set on a dangerous corner,” said Kathy Couch, also a part of the Concerned Citizens.

There is currently no traffic signal at the intersection. In a letter to South Vienna residents, the group states, “More traffic accidents happen there than anywhere else in the village, and some of those accidents have had fatalities.”

Several other residents cited concerns with crime, saying that if a robbery were to occur, the village’s location provides several escape routes. South Vienna also does not have a full-time police force.

Mayor Toni Keller said she shares in these concerns, and they have been brought to the attention of Dollar General developers.

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“I suggested that wasn’t the best area because of the safety and they chose to ignore me,” she said. “I wish they would try to understand — they’re big enough and they’re everywhere, and when they come to a place this small out in the middle of nowhere with very few residents, they really need to stop and listen to the people.”

A statement sent to the News-Sun by Dollar General says in part, “The company looks for places where we can offer customers an easy and convenient shopping choice as we generally serve customers within a three to five mile radius, or 10-minute drive. We also take competitive factors, traffic patterns and community concerns into consideration.”

Keller said Dollar General developers came to a village council meeting about two months ago, but when they were met with opposition about the store’s location from the council and residents — Keller said the company got its lawyers involved.

Mayor Keller said the village and Dollar General are currently in a legal battle about the property, which is in the southeast corner of the intersection.

There is some discrepancy about the zoning of the property.

As a village, South Vienna serves as its own zoning authority.

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On the Clark County Auditor’s website, the property is zoned residential — but a hand-drawn map at the South Vienna village offices shows that it is zoned for commercial use.

Mayor Keller said she didn’t notice the inconsistency because the village has rarely had to reference the map in the past.

“That property has always been used as residential,” she said. “It’s always been as far as we knew — zoned residential, and the property right behind it is agriculture.”

According to the auditor’s website, the property is still in the hands of the current owner. Keller said at this point, the village is waiting for Dollar General’s next move.

The company’s statement says that nothing is final yet.

“We are reviewing the opportunity to add a new store in the area, but we have not committed to doing so just yet,” the statement says. “Based on our current timeline, we anticipate to have a final decision on this by early winter 2019.”

Keller said she and the village council are planning to invite Dollar General developers to the next village council meeting, which is at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6.

She also encourages anyone with questions, comments or concerns to attend as well. The meeting will be held at the South Vienna Municipal Building on Main Street.


3 — Dollar General stores within 10 miles of South Vienna

350 — approximate number of village residents

6-10 — number of employees proposed Dollar General store would employ

The Springfield News-Sun digs in deep to issues affecting all Clark and Champaign County communities, including resident reaction to proposed new businesses.

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