The right decision

Published 4:46 pm Thursday, March 16, 2017

We think supervisors in Prince Edward County made the right decision in approving a special use permit for the construction and operation of a Dollar General store at the intersection of Rice’s Depot Road and Route 460 in Rice.

We commend the 28 speakers for airing their concerns and opinions during Tuesday night’s hearing, many of which surrounded traffic concerns at the intersection.

As we said here last week, we feel the project will add to the county’s tax base, bring muchneeded jobs to the community and give convenience to those who live in the area.

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The Routes 460 and 307 intersection adjacent to the store site, which we admit is dangerous, is set to undergo a $2.74 million reconfiguration that will result in a much safer traffic pattern.

Those who live in Rice near Route 460 should expect more small-scale commercial operations like this in the future as the community is termed a “village center” in the county’s comprehensive plan, one that sets the vision for land use for Prince Edward.

We commend supervisors for properly vetting the proposal through its planning commission and through Tuesday’s public hearing.