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GREENSBORO — A quick trip to the nearest grocery store for a loaf of bread takes more than half an hour for Denise Osborne, who lives in southeast Guilford County.

Should this property in Forest Oaks be rezoned? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

Efforts to shorten that trip could begin soon if the Guilford County Planning Board today rezones property in the Forest Oaks neighborhood for an upscale Food Lion and a free-standing drug store.

If the board rejects the plan, which seems unlikely, then the developer can appeal the decision to the county commissioners.

"I've been on a mission for two years to get one out here," said Osborne, who lives on Williams Dairy Road, about four miles from the proposed location.

A nearby Winn-Dixie store left the Forest Oaks Shopping Center in 2005 and gave residents a long drive in any direction to get eggs and milk.

The proposed Food Lion site is at Liberty Road and Woody Mill Road and has support from the county's planning staff.

Les Eger, deputy planning director for the county, said that neighbors have wanted a grocery there since he joined the staff in 1988.

"Nothing has ever occurred," he said, adding that Greensboro recently extended water and sewer lines to the area, enabling business to easily expand there.

Now the trip for last-minute groceries is a long haul.

"Most of the people in this area do one of two things," said David Gearhart, president of the Southeast Guilford Community Association. "They drive to Stoney Creek, which is 14 miles, or they drive to the Friendly Center and shop at that Harris Teeter."

He said some residents also drive to Burlington to shop.

"When we had the Winn-Dixie here, it was right in our backyard and most of Pleasant Garden shopped there," Gearhart said. "It is really costing us, just in driving time. And you figure the average distance in time and you're using up $6 in fuel."

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008, or gerald.witt@news-record.com