By Rupert Howell

Piggly Wiggly is moving south to Gateway Shopping Center owner Mike Reed told the Batesville Planning Commission at Monday’s monthly meeting held at Batesville City Hall.

The commission approved Reed’s building plans for changes for the existing building located near the intersection of Highways 6 and 51.

Commission members also approved two conditional use permits setting public hearings for each for December 7 before the Batesville board of mayor and aldermen.

Billy Burnett’s request was for a conditional use permit for apartments he proposes to build on Miller Street near Broadway. The permit would allow multi-family apartments on the C-2 zoned property, next to existing apartments.

Wade Aldridge’s request for upstairs apartments, also involving a conditional use permit, was approved pending the December 7 hearing before the city board. The permit allows living quarters in the upstairs of the Will Polk building at 103 Public Square.

Reed said changing locations of the local Piggly Wiggly, currently located on Highway 51 South in Batesville, would give additional space going from an existing 22,000 sq. ft. to 39,000 sq. ft. He told commissioners that the new store would occupy from Family Dollar Store north and that two businesses currently using portions of that area would be relocating by the end of the year when their leases expire.

He mentioned an April 1 opening date at the new location and stated that the site also offered additional parking, and easier access for both customers and suppliers.