Montgomery Council Denies Property Rezoning for Proposed Dollar General; Approves Liquor License Moratorium
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) — A controversial proposal to allow a Dollar General to be built next to Johnnie Carr Middle School and across from the Edward Thompson Park on Ray Thorington Road came to an end Tuesday night when the Montgomery City Council voted 7–2 not to remove restrictions on the property.
The decision followed heated debate and public comments from residents, business representatives and city officials.
The proposed store would have been located on a two-acre lot at 1740 Ray Thorington Road, property owned by veterinarian Dr. William Van Hooser and a business partner who bought the land two decades ago. The pair originally planned to build a veterinary clinic but are now trying to sell the site to Dollar General.
“Montgomery needs a lot of money,” Van Hooser told council members. “We need city services, and unfortunately that takes business to do it. We think it’s good for us, and we think it’s good for the city.”
His attorney, Mark Davis, argued that existing restrictions had made the property “almost unmarketable.”
But nearby homeowners strongly objected to the plan, citing traffic, flooding and crime concerns. Many of the 3,000 residents of Deer Creek, Thorington Trace and Breckenridge neighborhoods voiced opposition.
“We are not against him selling the land,” said Ken Garrett, who is president of the Breckenridge Homeowners Association. “We’d just like to see it used in a non-retail way—offices, daycare centers, or medical clinics—but not a discount store or gas station.”
Retired Montgomery police officer Martin Beeman warned that Dollar General stores are often linked to higher crime rates and poor maintenance.
“This pattern of crime and neglect must be taken seriously,” Beeman said. “Based on my experience, a robbery at that proposed location could take 15 to 20 minutes for a patrol unit to respond to.”
Ben Berry, who spoke on behalf of Dollar General, said the location would be convenient for nearby parents and teachers. “It’s very convenient for teachers and parents to stop in at this location. Also at the recreation park as people come and play ball. It’s a very convenient spot for those parents to make a quick stop without having to go further north and get into the traffic.”
District 8 Councilman Glen Pruitt, who represents the area, said stormwater runoff was a major unresolved issue. “One of the big issues that I have is the water. We’ve actually, through our engineering department, hired a hydro company. I have houses flooding in Breckenridge, I have houses flooding in Thorninton Trace, and I have a few in Deer Creek. When we put asphalt (for a parking lot) out here, this water is going to go somewhere, and we don’t have the answer yet to the water issue.”
Davis countered that if Montgomery rejected the deal, Dollar General would simply build nearby in the Town of Pike Road, projecting that the city could lose an estimated $2 million in potential tax revenue over the next decade.
After the council’s vote to deny the rezoning, residents in the packed council chamber cheered. There are currently 17 Dollar General locations within Montgomery city limits.
In other action, the council approved a 90-day moratorium on package store and lounge liquor licenses, and passed an ordinance requiring the mayor to obtain council approval for city contracts over $50,000.
