Unity OKs site plans for Dollar General store, Airpark building

Construction could begin this summer on a new Dollar General store in Unity after the township supervisors this week granted provisional approval of a final site plan.

“We’ll be starting by the end of the summer, hopefully,” said William Owen, assistant vice president of engineering and permitting for PennTex Ventures, developer of the 1.5-acre site along eastbound Route 30.

The store will occupy 9,100 square feet at the intersection of Smith’s Hill Road that offers great access.

It is expected to employ between 10 and 12 people, according to Owen.

He has said development of the store will involve demolition of vacant structures that have become eyesores.

The store “was needed in the community, and we decided to bring it here,” Owen said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

The developer still must get approval of stormwater management and erosion and sedimentation control plans, according to township Solicitor Gary Falatovich.

He said the store will feature a “cultured block” facade.

The township is waiving normal landscaping requirements to avoid vegetation that could limit the sight distance for motorists pulling onto the highway.

Dollar General operates a store farther east along Route 30 in Unity and two in neighboring Latrobe.

Airpark site plan OK’d

The supervisors also approved a site plan for a 63,000-square-foot commercial spec building with a loading dock proposed for construction at Bayhill Road near Route 981 in the Westmoreland Airpark industrial park. The 6.5-acre lot is owned by EFR II, LLC.

According to a web page for the 210-acre industrial park near Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, 15 lots have been sold and about a dozen more are available for development.

The supervisors approved an ordinance amendment that will waive a bonding requirement for stormwater management facilities created as part of developments in manufacturing zones and at industrial parks such as the Airpark.

Falatovich noted the township offers tax incentives for development in such areas.

“It seemed like a disincentive to require individuals who are engaging in construction in those areas to pay the cost of a bond,” he said.

Normally, developers are required to post an initial bond equal to 110% of the cost of constructing stormwater facilities. Once the facilities are complete, they must post a one-year bond equal to 15% of the cost, followed by a 10-year maintenance bond, Falatovich said.

He said developers still must comply with best practices for stormwater management, with facilities that are subject to township inspection. Responsibility for maintaining the stormwater facilities transfers to any subsequent owner of the property, he said.