UNIONTOWN - A Fayette County retail development has gotten a tentative go-ahead for construction of a proposed $55 million strip mall.
The proposed development is behind the existing Cherry Tree Square complex in South Union Township.
Widewaters Group Inc., a DeWitt, N.Y.-based developer, has said that the plans include construction of a Super Wal-Mart.
Public officials and the developer had been in open conflict with engineers for the state Department of Transportation for the past year over what they believed were overly onerous requirements to address traffic on the roads around the proposed site.
Local officials said the site is one of the few bright spots in the county's bleak economic picture.
"In other areas, they can afford to lose a store or a development. But there are so few areas that possess potential for economic development in Fayette County," said Robert Schiffbauer, vice chairman of South Union Township board of supervisors.
County commissioners, the township and the developer are prepared to spend $3.6 million in road improvement and new road construction.
Previously, they had complained that PennDOT wanted too many road improvements on state Route 21 and New Salem Road.
