GRANITE QUARRY — The Board of Aldermen approved a rezoning Monday night that should pave the way for a new Family Dollar at 240 N. Salisbury Ave.
Bryan Smith of Aston Properties of Charlotte said his firm hopes to build a 8,320-square-foot store on the site, which is owned by F&M Bank and used to be home for a Carolina Maid warehouse.
Frances “Frannie” Taylor, project manager for F&M, said the bank has worked closely with Aston Properties in making sure the Family Dollar’s appearance will fit with the adjoining F&M campus, which includes the bank’s operations center.
Smith said it’s the developer’s intent to have brick on all four sides of the store, not just the facade.
Aston Properties sought the rezoning from light-industrial (L-I) to central business (CB), because a store would not be able to meet parking requirements in an L-I district.
Central business zoning is in line with other CB-zoned properties in this area, Smith noted. The Granite Quarry Planning Board recommended for the rezoning, too.
Aldermen approved the zoning change by a 4-0 vote.
Aldermen also OK’d the $449,871 purchase of a new fire truck, after the Granite Quarry Fire Department spent considerable time negotiating down from an initial low bid of $559,891 from Atlantic Emergency Solution/Pierce.
The new figure falls within the town’s original $450,000 budget for a truck, which fire officials say should get the department through the next 20 years.
Town Manager Dan Peters is looking into financing a portion of the purchase, and he said the town still faces substantial costs in upfitting the new truck and making some changes to the fire station to accommodate all the equipment.
In another matter Monday, Mayor Bill Feather responded to two proposed resolutions submitted several months ago by Wes Rhinier, who had been a candidate for alderman in the last election.
“Resolution A” was to preserve and defend the U.S. Constitution and N.C. Constitution, while “Resolution B” was to protect the privacy and security of law-abiding gun owners in North Carolina.
Feather said, “The board has reviewed, considered and discussed these resolutions. It is the consensus of the board that the request to adopt these resolutions would go beyond Granite Quarry’s scope of influence. However, the board recommends Mr. Rhinier take his request to the state and/or federal level.”
“This is not a bottom-up issue, but a top-down one,” Alderwoman Mary S. Ponds added.
Alderman Mike Brinkley said he liked an aspect of Rhinier’s resolution on guns, which would exempt personal gun ownership from the public records law.
In other business:
• Alderman Arin Wilhelm pressed the board to discuss Logan Pope’s request for a conditional use permit to allow for a tattoo parlor at 115 N. Salisbury Ave. Wilhelm said Pope has been looking for an answer from the town since last October, though it actually has been since September.
“I’d like to tackle that issue as soon as possible,” Wilhelm said. “He deserves an answer.”
The Planning Board will discuss the conditional use request Monday and the board will held a public hearing March 3, Feather said.
• The peace pole associated with “Let’s Connected Day” May 17 will be installed in Granite Lake Park. Peters said it will be erected near the shelter and visible from the street.
Peters promised it will be “a nice addition to the park.” “I’m glad we’re part of it,” he added.
• The board approved $500 toward the town’s participation in an Urban Land Institute study for towns in Rowan County, under a business-government partnership.
The initiative grew out of the quarterly meeting of the Rowan County Municipal Association.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.