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.

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