Dollar General proposal draws concern over septic tank plan

A request to annex a 1.4-acre parcel in the northwest portion of Statesville – to access city water and electricity for a new Dollar General Store – raised concerns at the City Council’s Nov. 19 meeting.

Due to the distance between the proposed store’s location – northwest of the intersection of N.C. 90/U.S. 64 and Marble Road – and the nearest city sewer connection, the developer plans to use a septic tank system rather than city sewers.

This did not sit well with some of council members, and the usually routine process of setting a date for the required public hearing evolved into a 20-minute discussion about city utilities, specifically the developer’s plans for handling sewage at the site.

“I don’t believe the utility configuration in this proposal, primarily regarding the sewers, is in the best interests of the city,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Johnson. He said the 1.4-acre parcel actually is only a small portion of a nearly 12-acre plot owned by J.C. Faw of Wilkesboro and his firm, Consolidated Investments.

“We don’t want multiple septic fields at this site,” Johnson said.

Planning Director David Currier also said the proposed location sits on top of an old landfill, though he couldn’t elaborate on what effect that might have on the overall proposal.

The concerns raised by Johnson and Currier prompted Councilman Cecil Stallard to propose that the issue be tabled until all the questions could be answered; however, the council decided to allow the annexation hearing to proceed. The hearing will be 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at City Hall.

“Bottom line is, we’ll have several steps along the way where we can slow this train down should that be the council’s wishes,” said Mayor Costi Kutteh.

Also at the Nov. 19 meeting, the council:

• Authorized the Statesville Police to renew an agreement with the city’s housing authority, calling for a full-time police officer to provide police services at all properties owned by the authority.

• Approved revisions to the city’s Sewer Use Ordinance as recommended by the state Division of Water Quality. According to Joe Hudson, the city’s director of water resources, the modifications do not change any procedures currently used by Statesville to monitor and enforce the ordinance.

• Acknowledged Greg and Karen Palmer, winners of the city’s first annual Historic Preservation of the Year Award winners. The Palmers were honored for the renovations they have made to the home at 406 Davie Ave.