Hinesville City Council approved preliminary plans for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, at least in part.

During a lengthy meeting Thursday afternoon, the council ultimately approved a preliminary plat for the grocery store — essentially a smaller Wal-Mart that focuses on selling groceries — with a fuel center. But the developer requested that it be allowed to create a shorter extension of Gen. Stewart Way to provide access to the store, and that proved to be a source of contention.

The plat request by Berry Engineers LLC on behalf of Polestar Development, LLC consists of three tracts of land. Two tracts will be owned by the developer with the third dedicated to the city when the construction project is completed. The proposed store — which neither the developer nor council members mentioned by name — would have two access points: one on the Gen. Stewart Way extension and one at an existing 60-foot access easement next to Ole Times Country Buffet.

City public-relations manager Krystal Hart confirmed Friday that the grocery store in question is a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, which she said is planned to be about 4,100 square feet on a 2-acre parcel of land.

While asking for approval of the plat, the developer also requested the proposed extension only be built up to the first entrance to the proposed store. However, a city ordinance requires that proposed streets be extended to the boundary of the property with a temporary turnaround provided. The developer said the cost associated with the curb, gutter and pavement for the longer extension was more than anticipated.

“I’m sympathetic to the extra cost for the full extension,” said Councilman Jason Floyd, whose district includes the new store. “But I cannot approve the preliminary plat if it does not comply with the city’s ordinance.”

The rest of council agreed. The preliminary plat was approved, but the request for a shorter extension of Gen. Stewart Way was denied.

Earlier in the meeting, the council considered a rezoning petition by Wilma Gaskin and David Mullins. The owners of a 3.04-acre property requested to rezone the property from single-family dwelling to multi-family dwelling so it can become part of a larger, 8-acre property already rezoned as a multi-family dwelling district. Both properties are on Pineland Avenue.

Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission Zoning Administrator Gabriele Hartage said the two-story affordable-housing complex is being divided into two phases. Phase 1, which has already been rezoned, will consist of 72 units. Phase 2 will consist of 32 units. She said the LCPC recommended approval of the rezoning request with standard and special conditions.

The special conditions included a traffic-impact study, modified entrance and exit on Pineland Avenue with right- and left-hand turn-out plus an additional ingress/egress.

Floyd asked why the rezoning request included conditions for a site plan. Mayor Pro Tem Charles Frasier added that he was concerned about having two entrances and exits.

“Gentlemen, we’re not approving specific ingress and egress points,” Mayor Jim Thomas said, suggesting their approval not focus on site conditions. “This is purely a rezoning request. The LCPC can make a recommendation toward a specific site plan, then come back to us that these conditions have been met.”

The council agreed. Frasier then made a motion to approve the rezoning request under standard conditions only but noted that council members were asking LCPC to notify them when their special conditions had been met.

In other business, the council approved the city’s design review board’s recommendation for a duplex on Welborn Street and quadruplex on Rebecca Street, both projects for Hinesville Development Inc.

Thomas had an even longer day than the council. He began a half hour before the meeting started by signing three proclamations in City Hall’s Hinesville Room.

Thomas met with nurses, emergency medical service personnel and public works water treatment experts to proclaim National Nurses Week, May 6-12; National EMS Week, May 17-23; and National Drinking Water Week, May 3-9.

After the proclamations, Thomas was joined by Liberty County Board of Commissioners Chairman Donald Lovette for a photo opportunity with nurses and EMS personnel.