Dollar General back on Lindsay agenda

A proposed Dollar General store planned for Lindsay which failed on two separate tries, is back again for consideration.

The Lindsay City Council on Tuesday will consider approval of a site plan for the discount store at the southeast corner of Hermosa Street and Elmwood Avenue, the same location that was rejected when an attorney and a citizen suggested that site had historical significance.

It was in 2013 when Dollar General made its second attempt to locate a store in Lindsay. The first attempt to build a store where the old Citrus Exchange Building sits, died for the same reason the second site eventually failed — a claim the sites had historical significance. Since that attempt the old auto repair facility at that corner has been demolished and all four parcels designated for the development are now vacant.

Dollar General has been building stores right and left in Tulare County, including one in Strathmore, Tipton and one proposed for Strathmore and Springville.

When the company proposed its building at the Hermosa and Elemwood site, a 1970s gas station was located there. A group, Lindsay Advocates for Responsive Government and Trudy Wischemann, filed suit to block the project proposed by the Embree Asset Group.

The new store proposed would be 9,000 square feet size and employ as many as 12 people.

The major difference in this proposal and the past two is the makeup of the council. Steven Mecum has left the council and Brian Watson has been appointed to fill his place on the council.

Also on the agenda is the appointment of Watson, along with incumbent Pam Kimball and Laura Cortes to the council lieu of the Nov. 8 election. They are the only three candidates for three seats up for election. The appoints would not effect until the first council meeting of December, after the general election is certified.