On a 4-0 vote, Mahoning Township supervisors on Wednesday granted conditional use approval to JLM Investments LLC for a Dollar General store at 1677 Blakeslee Boulevard. Supervisor Brian Reeser was absent.

Cole Boyer, project engineer with JLM Investments LLC, said the one-story commercial building would be built on 1.88 acres owned by Duschak One LLC.

Boyer said the 10,700-square-foot building would be located in a neighborhood commercial (C-2) zone at the light at Normal Square across from the Citgo gas station along Route 443.

A section of the zoning ordinance stores for the conducting of neighborhood and retail businesses are permitted in the C-2 neighborhood commercial district as conditional uses.

Boyer said the property is currently being utilized as a landscaping entity.

He said plans call for 32 parking spaces.

Boyer said upgrades would be made to a part of Twin Hill Road.

He said the store’s traffic impact will be nominal.

Boyer said they anticipate 300 vehicles on a daily basis in terms of traffic generated, which should have little impact on Blakeslee Boulevard.

As a result, he said no traffic study was required.

Boyer said Dollar General looks to build its stores on main roads that are in proximity to residential neighborhoods.

Board Chairman Robert Slaw asked Boyer what Dollar General does in the event its stores don’t make their margins.

Boyer said that hasn’t been an issue, as all the stores they have are all up and running.

About a dozen residents attended, roughly half of which spoke out and were opposed to the plan.

Resident Dylan Smith said that as a fourth-generation business owner, he’d like to see “something more locally owned.”

Resident Paige Sutton Smith said her hope is that the Dollar General is supportive to the township’s local resources.

“We’ve had a lot of support from the (Lehigh Valley) hospital, Kia Dealership,” she said. “We’re looking forward to your support.”

Resident Midge Heiser asked what the store’s hours of operation would be. Boyer said it would be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Resident Zach Slawter said he believes a Dollar General isn’t needed in the area.

“It’s just ultimately not even close to necessary to have a Dollar General,” Slawter said.

Slaw, who also serves as a member of the township’s planning commission, said the group recommended the use according to the township’s zoning.

Afterward, the board broke for an executive session.

Upon reconvening, the board granted the conditional use subject to obtaining variances for the number of parking spaces required, and the parking and loading setback. Or the company can comply with existing conditions.