D-day ahead for Walhalla moratorium

Walhalla’s elected leaders are approaching a decision on whether to extend or rescind their moratorium forbidding new discount stores in the corporate limits.  Indications during last night’s city hall meeting were that the mayor and council will take a vote during their regular July meeting—Tuesday, July 20.  Much of last night’s focus was generated by a presentation by Elijah Hayes, zoning administrator.  Hayes relayed the recommendation of the city planning commission that, under certain conditions, discount stores may locate inside three zoning districts:  office commercial, highway commercial, and light industrial.  The avenue that Walhalla might pursue is to re-work their zoning laws to prevent discount stores from Main Street and the associated area inside what’s projected to be a greenway.  The discount store issue reached the fore this year when it became known that the Dollar General chain had its sights set on at least one location inside the core commercial area and another on a part of W. Main that features a mixed number of homes and businesses.  A 101.7/WGOG NEWS source familiar with Dollar General’s hopes to build in Walhalla now says Dollar General is targeting property outside the corporate limits.