The Orange Beach City Council voted to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to deny a site plan for a new Dollar General during the Regular Scheduled Council Meeting Sept. 1.

The Broadway Group planned to build on a 9,100 square foot building on a lot located on Canal Road west of Bear Point Plaza. Magnolia Avenue borders the property on its north side. The 0.93-acre parcel is zoned for general business.

The biggest concern expressed by the Planning Commission and the City Council was the movement of delivery trucks on the property. The staff report noted, “civil drawings provide a diagram showing how a 53-foot delivery truck will maneuver on the property. Staff has witnessed larger trucks (73 to 76 foot) at the Dollar General store on Highway 161.”

During the council meeting, Councilperson Annette Mitchell gave an example of residents being blocked in by delivery trucks at the Dollar General location on State Route 161. The city’s own building official Lannie Smith was prevented from leaving the Dollar General on State Route 161 by a delivery truck for 45 minutes despite requests to the manager and truck driver to move the truck. Councilperson Jerry Johnson’s wife Yolando Johnson suffered the same experience.

Tod Dodgen of Maynard Cooper Gale, representative of the Broadway Group, made a presentation to the Council. Included in the presentation was an assurance of truck size restriction. The Broadway group included landlord restriction and tenant restrictions in the lease limiting delivery truck size to WB-50 or smaller.

“These are restriction that are going to be in place for probably 30 years. The reason is the site has a 15-year lease with Dollar General and three 5-year renewal options,” said Dodgen.

After the presentation, the floor was opened to public comment and several residents spoke in opposition of the Dollar General.

In the end, promises were not enough, and public safety prevailed. The council voted unanimously against the site plan approval.