Alto council rejects storage plan for former Dollar General

ALTO, Ga. — The Alto Town Council unanimously denied a variance request Tuesday for a proposed climate-controlled self-storage facility at the former Dollar General property on South Grant Street after town officials raised concerns about the long-term use of one of Alto’s limited commercial properties.

The vote came after an extended work session discussion with John Collins, who represented Hangar Mill Investors, the company under contract to purchase the former Dollar General and Oh So Cozy furniture store property at 155 S. Grant St.

Collins said the company planned to convert the existing building into an indoor, climate-controlled storage facility with 81 units ranging from 5-by-5 feet to 10-by-20 feet.

“We would like to do a conversion of that property and convert it into climate-controlled storage,” Collins told the council. “No access from the outside. Everything’s access from the inside.”

The proposed facility would be remotely operated, with customers able to rent units and access the building using electronic codes. Collins said the property would be monitored with 24-hour security cameras inside and outside the building.

The company was scheduled to close on the property Sept. 17 and could complete the conversion within approximately three months, Collins said.

“We would get involved going pretty much immediately,” he said.

Zoning questions

The property is located in Alto’s Central Business District, and Collins acknowledged the proposed use could present a zoning issue.

After reviewing the town’s ordinances, Collins said he believed a section of the code could allow the mayor and council to issue a special use permit for the property.

“If you guys choose to go in that direction, you may ask him about that and see if that’s something you guys” could consider, Collins said.

Alto Building Official and Code Enforcement Officer Robert Gutowski said allowing the project would require either rezoning or a special use exception. But Gutowski expressed reservations about using one of the town’s limited commercial properties for self-storage.

“The central business district should be almost something that was like around back in the day,” Gutowski said, suggesting uses such as a bank, store, restaurant or barber shop.

“We’re limited on commercial space. I hate to lose that one commercial space to tie it up with something that only 84 people will ever use.”

Gutowski acknowledged, however, that identifying another potential use for the vacant building was difficult.

Concerns over the property’s future

Councilman Allen Fox also questioned whether self-storage represented the best long-term use for the property. He raised concerns about the facility’s 24-hour access and the potential for people to loiter in the large parking lot.

Police Chief Sean Rogers said he did not see how the proposed storage facility would benefit the town.

“I’d like to see the future of that property being part of the city somehow to where, you know, be a beacon of this town,” Rogers said.

Gutowski raised additional concerns from a code enforcement perspective, including the
possibility of illegally parked vehicles, security problems and other issues at the largely vacant property.

“My opinion from being code enforcement is being code enforcement nightmare,” he said.

Collins argued the project would provide a productive use for a building that has remained vacant.

“I think it would be good for the city,” Collins said. “I think it’s a good use of the vacant building sitting here. We’ll be good neighbors. Promise you.”

Unanimous denial

Following the work session, the council entered executive session to discuss real estate and litigation. When members returned to open session, they unanimously denied the variance request for 155 S. Grant St.

The vote denies the request considered by the council Tuesday night, although Collins had discussed other potential avenues, including rezoning or a special use permit, during the work session.