Dollar General won’t be adding a fifth location in Penn Hills — yet.
On Wednesday, the municipality’s zoning hearing board denied a bid by MSP Properties of Pennsylvania to build a Dollar General at 509 Rodi Road.
The developer requested three variances: 21 parking spaces instead of the standard 46, a reduced setback and a dumpster on the front of the property. In a 3 to 1 vote, the board decided the changes were too big of an ask.
“We did everything we could to make it fit into the mold, and it just didn’t,” said Marcia Cereza, president of the zoning hearing board.
Harold McDonald cast the lone vote of support, with the condition that MSP conduct a traffic study through PennDOT.
MSP real estate director Samuel Dudley said he plans to consult with Dollar General and submit a revised plan for the board’s consideration.
The board raised concerns about a lack of parking — especially after accounting for employees — logistics for emergency responders and possible congestion on Rodi Road. Sarah Ritsema of Widmer Engineering noted that the steep hillside abutting the site would make expanding the parking lot challenging.
Changes to the store size also might prove difficult. Dudley said the proposed store is the smallest of three sizes approved by Dollar General, which did not send a representative to the meeting.
“There is sometimes deviation from the prototypical drawings, but Dollar General really does not like to entertain changes to building size,” Dudley said. “The positioning of the store is another thing that can often be changed, but I believe we have it in a situation to maximize the space.”
Cereza was unconvinced.
“Dollar General may not like to make the changes, but Dollar General wants to come to Penn Hills,” Cereza said. “They don’t want to give, but they want to take.”