The Mathews County Planning Commission voted by a 6-1 margin Tuesday night to recommend that the board of supervisors approve a conditional use permit for a second Dollar General store in the county, to be located at Hudgins.

The decision was made after a joint public hearing conducted by the board of supervisors and the commission.

During discussion of the matter, staff planner Thomas Jenkins and representatives of the developer, Venture Properties, explained that the second Dollar General would not replace the existing store located just three miles away in Town Center. Rather, since it has added groceries to the products it offers for sale, said Ronnie Walsh of Venture Properties, Dollar General’s business model calls for placing stores in hamlets to serve as neighborhood grocery stores.

The fact that Dollar General wants to build a second store so close to the first one is an indication of the health of the store currently located in Mathews Court House, said Walsh, whose ...