With one more vote of approval, a malt-producing business could be coming to the Cleveland area and a Dollar General opening up shop along U.S. 601 in Franklin.

The Rowan County Planning Board on Monday approved a rezoning just outside of Cleveland and an amended conditional use permit in the Franklin area. Both passed unanimously. Next, the rezoning and conditional use permit amendment must be approved by the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.

Aaron Goss, an owner of the Cleveland property, said he plans to open a business that would produce malt from barley and other grains. Planning Department documents show a Dollar General on the Franklin property.

First on Monday’s agenda, the Cleveland rezoning passed with little discussion. The planning board rezoned the Cleveland property from Rural Agricultural to the county’s Commercial, Business and Industrial designation.

Rowan County Planner Franklin Gover during Monday’s meeting said the piece of property near Cleveland measures about 5 acres. The property situated less than a mile from Cleveland on Statesville Boulevard.

Goss said it would be one year or more before the malt-producing business could be operational. He said the business would provide malt to breweries in North Carolina, and cut down on the travel time for malted barley from other states.

Malt is germinated grains that can be used to produce beer and other food products. Goss said the large amount of wheat produced in the Piedmont region could be a source of barley for his business.

Next, the planning board amended a previous decision and approved a conditional use permit for allow a Dollar General on the 5100 block of U.S. 601.

The piece of property is currently zoned Commercial, Business and Industrial. The current zoning comes with a condition that the property can only be used for an automotive tire and repair facility and sale of furniture, storage buildings and crafts.

The Rowan County Planning Board’s vote on Monday allows Aaron Martin, the property owner, to use the piece of property for a retail sales business. The board included a condition with its approval. The condition requires Martin to combine the three tax parcels that were part of the rezoning into a single parcel.

It’s the fourth change requested by Martin for his Franklin property. In 2004, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning request from the Rural Residential designation to Commercial, Business and Industrial. The 2004 rezoning allowed for retail sale of furniture, storage buildings and crafts. Then, in 2007, the commissioners approved a measure that allowed Martin to expend his operations. In 2011, commissioners approved an automotive tire and minor repair facility, which was never built or opened.

The Cleveland rezoning and Franklin conditional use permit amendment could, at the earliest, be considered during the Rowan County Commissioners’ July 6 regularly scheduled meeting.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.