Blairsville Council approved several variances Tuesday to pave the way for development of a Dollar General variety store at Market and South Morrow streets.

The 9,100-square-foot store is being developed by PennTex Ventures of Greensburg, which previously erected a Dollar General location along Route 217 near Derry.

Ashley E. Weinman, marketing and development manager for PennTex, said the company purchased the lot that is occupied by Bowser Auto Sales. She said an existing building at the corner of the parcel will be demolished to provide space for 28 off-street parking stalls and the store will face South Morrow.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring, with a June opening date projected.

According to Weinman, the store will employ 10 to 14 full-time and part-time employees. She said her company has signed a 15-year lease with Dollar General, “so they're going to be here for a long time.”

With the store's selection of grocery items, she acknowledged, the current lack of a full-service supermarket in the borough added to the appeal of the downtown site for the variety chain.

As recommended by the borough planning commission, council granted zoning variances for the store's parking area and signage.

Borough manager Tim Evans explained Blairsville's zoning ordinance normally would require 46 off-street parking spaces for the store, but there is room for only 28. Entrances to the lot are to be located along Market Street and Iron Alley.

Evans said PennTex has agreed to accommodate borough requests by adding amenities such as bike racks outside the store and installing landscaping as a buffer between the parking area and adjacent sidewalks.

He said a sign at the front of the store will measure close to four feet high and 26 feet long — larger than zoning regulations call for, but smaller than the developer originally planned: “We asked them to bring it down (in size), and we met in the middle.”

Another store sign displayed on a pole will be 17 feet high — higher than zoning ordinarily would allow but no taller than a sign for the nearby Tractor Supply store.

In another planning-related matter, council approved a subdivision laying out a series of 36 residential lots for the proposed Blairsville Riverfront Village envisioned by the Blairsville Community Development Authority. The lots are spaced along West Market and Liberty streets and include property once occupied by the Conemaugh Terrace senior apartments and the Vale Tech automotive school.

The authority has completed some preliminary work on utility infrastructure for the residential development. An additional zoning review would be needed before any construction could begin on homes.

Council accepted Leann Chaney's resignation from the borough planning and shade tree commissions. She recently accepted a position with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission in Pittsburgh and is moving from town.

Council heard a presentation from Tim Long, executive director of the Indiana County Solid Waste Authority, who asked borough officials to consider initiating a curbside recycling program.

Blairsville recently discontinued a drop-off site outside the borough building Citizens were able to deposit recyclable items in a trailer that was hauled north of Homer City, where it could be emptied at the solid waste authority's recycling center.

But that program eventually became a losing proposition, as the borough had to contend with those who dumped prohibited items at the trailer while racking up substantial labor and transportation costs.

“I believe curbside recycling could be a viable alternative,” Long said.

Based on a 2010 census count of 1,772 housing units in Blairsville, Long said the solid waste authority could conduct a collection of recyclables in the borough each Friday, serving half of the town's households every other week.

The projected monthly cost per housing unit would be between $2 and $2.25.

Long said there would be some additional up-front costs — for a campaign to educate local citizens about the recycling program and purchasing up to two recycling bins per household, with a cost ranging from $7 to $10.

He suggested some of the program costs could be rebated according to the value of the collected recyclables — which he estimated could be between $4,000 and $6,000 for 75 tons or more gathered up annually.

Solid waste authority board member Tom Falcone noted the community also might save another $4,000 or more in landfill tipping fees by diverting recyclable items from the waste stream.

Long said the borough might also apply for state reimbursement toward costs for the bins. But, he said, to qualify the borough likely would have to pass an ordinance making recycling mandatory.

“I'm in favor of this, but we need to discuss it more,” said councilman Ab Dettorre.

“I don't see passing it along to the residents,” councilman Jim Mollo said of the recycling program's costs.

Mayor Ron Evanko suggested holding a town meeting to solicit public input on the program.

Evans pointed out that, since the recycling program could result in savings on waste disposal, the logical entity to operate the program.

It was announced that the Blairsville Volunteer Fire Department's annual Halloween parade will be held at 7 p.m. Monday near the Diamond at West Market and Liberty streets. Registration will be at Blairsville Pharmacy.

Trick-or-treating in the borough will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31. Those who wish to give treats should turn on an outside light.

Looking ahead, Blairsville Community Development Authority board member Carol Persichetti announced that Blairsville's holiday Light-Up festivities will be held Dec. 5. Activities will include a parade at 5:30 p.m.and the arrival of Santa and choral performances at 6 p.m. Hay rides will be featured along with children's crafts, a live Nativity and hot food. An arts and crafts show will be held from 1 to 8:30 p.m. at the Blairsville Community Center.

Persichetti said, although colder weather has arrived, the BCDA will continue to organize group walks along a circular route through town through the state WalkWorks program. The walks start each weekday at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the S&T Bank parking lot.

According to Persichetti, the authority is applying for a national grant to further promote the walking program and for a Wal-Mart grant for street signage and beautification projects. It also is seeking funding from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for development of a second boat launch at a site to be determined on the Conemaugh River.

Those who would like to sponsor banners to be hung from several new streetlamps on Liberty Street should contact the BCDA at 724-459-8588.

Jeff Himler is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-459-6100, ext. 2910 or jhimler@tribweb.com.

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