On Wednesday, two representatives answered questions and sought to address concerns from residents.
The controversy is rooted in the store’s proposed location — at the southeast corner of the intersection of Ohio 40 and Ohio 54.
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“There have been fatalities,” one resident said. “Is your conscience gonna be clear? You going to feel alright when there’s more fatalities there because of this store?”
“We just bought a house here three years ago,” said another resident. “We didn’t sign up for this. We didn’t sign up to able to look out our front door and see a Dollar General down the road.”
Josh Allen, Cross Development senior vice president, said several different locations in the village were considered before landing on the proposed corner of the intersection.
“That location is driven by market research that our client provides to us,” Allen said.
“I just want everyone to understand — We’re not just putting it right at the intersection with no thought. There has been thought. It is being engineered and it will be permitted.”
Several residents voiced their concerns to developers about costs to the village, intrusion on neighboring properties, the possibility of an empty storefront if the business fails, increased crime and the big issue — safety, especially with an expected increase in traffic when Northeastern Local Schools gets new school buildings.
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Currently traffic at the intersection of Ohio 40 and Ohio 54 is enforced by a two-way stop going north and south with a flashing light headed east and west.
“Our community children, our community elderly are going to be enticed to go across that street,” said one woman. “It’s a very, very dangerous situation.”
Allen responded by saying the project is still in its infancy. The company has received zoning approval but it does not currently own the property.
He said they will be able to close when permits have been approved and conditions of an existing contract the company has with the property owner have been met.
“What we still have to go through is a very rigorous permit process. The state, the county is still going to look at that, and whatever they require — we will follow,” Allen said.
Several people in the village have appealed to the South Vienna zoning board in regard to the project.
The next step is for the board to have a hearing on the appeals next month.
When asked if the company would consider other options for the store’s location, Allen said yes — as long as it was within reason.
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One resident pointed to the site of the former South Vienna Market and Dairy on West Main Street, which is on the northern side of Ohio 40, saying that would relieve many people’s concerns.
The market went out of business earlier this month, but it shared a building with Self Reliance Inc., which is an adult day services center.
Self Reliance is still operational at the location and has expanded into other portions of the building where the market used to be.
It’s not clear whether that space is available for sale or other development.
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