By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayetteville's new free-standing Eckerd drug store needs a roll-down security gate over its entrance to protect itself from crime, says a company official.

But the city Planning Commission doesn't like the message that such a gate sends.

“I think the gates give the impression to the general public that this is a high-crime area,” said Planning Commission member Kevin Bittinger as the group discussed the company's plan last week.

That impression is not entirely inaccurate, said Scott Moore, regional construction manager for the firm. “We've had two burglaries in recent months,” Moore told the commissioners.

The company's store at Gingercake Road and Ga. Highway 54 was victimized Sept. 30, said Moore, adding the burglars used “the old smash-and-grab” technique, breaking front windows, grabbing as much merchandise as possible and running away. The thieves took about $9,000 worth of merchandise, he said.

Two weeks later Eckerd's old store on Ga. Highway 85 suffered a similar fate, Moore said. That store has been closed in favor of the new store at Hwy. 85 and Banks Road.

“Basically we're in the defensive mode,” said Moore.

When the new store was built, the company installed a roll-down burglar gate without Planning Commission permission, he said, because officials didn't consider the addition a major change in the store. “We disagree that it's a change in elevation,” he said.

“Yes, this is a change in elevation,” said Bittinger.

Commission member Allan Feldman said other stores don't feel the need for such measures. “There are other stores with valuable merchandise inside that haven't felt the need to engage in this type of armored protection,” he said. “I would suggest some other avenue.”

Commissioners turned down the store's request for a change in elevation to allow the gate. Eckerd hired a court reporter to record the proceedings.

Moore said company officials will present the transcript to their legal staff to see whether there's any cause for legal action.