A controversial proposed Dollar General store received a setback from the Penn Forest Township zoning hearing board this week.

The board voted to deny the developer’s request for zoning relief Monday night, after hearing testimony in the case last month. The vote was 3-0.

The zoning approval was needed in order for the plans for the proposed store at Route 534 and Old Stage Road to be approved by the township supervisors.

Dollar General had asked the zoning hearing board for a variance from the township’s zoning ordinance.

The developer said that it couldn’t meet the requirement for minimum lot width at the minimum building setback line.

According to a zoning hearing application filed by Albrightsville DG LLC, it could not meet the minimum width because of the shape of the property, and because the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation required it to locate a driveway along Old Stage Road, instead of on Route 534.

The zoning hearing board will release a written decision. The developer will have 30 days from that decision to decide if they wish to appeal to the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas. It could also submit revised plans to the township.

The developer didn’t return an email seeking comment.

More than 700 people signed an online petition opposing the store. While the store is proposed in a commercial zone, the petitioners said that it does not fit in with the surrounding area which is largely residential.