Eldred Township planners and community members met last week to hear Travis Martin of Livic Civil, a Bloomsburg engineering firm submitting plans for a Dollar General store.

The plan to build a store between 239 and 285 Kunkletown Road near County View Road is in early stages, but residents have concerns.

The township sent a list of concerns on April 12. Martin asked for an extension to address the changes.

Many questions

The planners asked Martin if he was aware of the status in the subdivision since the previous subdivision in 2015 had not been “activated” for assessment purposes created discrepancies in the records for this property regarding acreage.

“The applicant is aware of the issue. He believes it has since been resolved,” he said.

Solicitor Michael Gaul was unsure whether the county will wish to review the previous subdivision and the proposed subdivision.

Gaul asked Martin if there would be two highway occupancy permits issued by PennDOT for propose and remainder lots. Martin said he was still waiting for comments from PennDOT.

Another concern brought up was about the safety of the proposed truck access into Dollar General. The problem was over whether the proposed access area could be insufficient in size and configuration.

Residents speak out

Resident Joseph Chillari spoke in opposition to the plan. “I see no reason for a Dollar General

as there are six dollar stores within a 10-mile radius,” he said.

He said Dollar General stores attract lower-income shoppers, who think they are getting a bargain, but they are not.

“There are studies and reports that show that crime increases and there are more robberies,” he said.

He also voiced concern about the proposed location of the store, in the middle of farmland.

Chillari’s other protests against building a Dollar General included the accessibility of emergency service vehicles since a personal care home is so close to the site, crime, property values and the loss of aesthetic value to the local residents.

Gaul told Chillari that the approval of a plan is a process, and we are still in the beginning phases of the review of this plan. Gaul invited him to continue coming to meetings and expressing any concerns he has with this or any proposed development in the Township.

Resident Terry Van Buskirk had a short list of concerns that included snow drifts, water runoff, the existing utility poles, and the grading of the existing banks.

The Planning Commission told residents the process is the very early stages and concerns will be addressed as the process moves forward.