Help sought to bring Olive Garden to area
South Union Township supervisors are asking residents for their help in bringing an Olive Garden to the area. During Wednesday’s meeting, Schiffbauer said Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, has expressed an interest in bringing a restaurant to the area for the last several years.
“We’ve been in communication with Darden for several years,” he said. “They told us a year ago it was not a matter of whether or not they would bring in an Olive Garden, but rather a matter of where and when.”
However, in most recent conversations, Schiffbauer said the company told supervisors all plans are on hold for the time being.
Schiffbauer said it’s a shame executives with Darden changed their mind about locating an Olive Garden in the Uniontown area, since residents currently have to drive to either Morgantown, W.Va., or Pittsburgh to eat there.
“We have no doubt in our mind that a classy restaurant like Olive Garden would do well here,” said Schiffbauer, noting that Red Lobster, a similar restaurant, has done exceedingly well.
Schiffbauer said he and other supervisors had received several requests from residents over the years who say they want an Olive Garden to locate somewhere nearby. He said anyone wishing to call or e-mail Darden and request that an Olive Garden be located in Uniontown is encouraged to contact the Florida-based company.
People can call Darden at 407-245-4000 or e-mail the company at marketdev@darden.com.
As for other matters, supervisors gave their approval to rezone a Hopwood property, changing it from a B-1 to R-2, business to residential.
Jack P. Shaffer Sr. of 68 Sylvanus Ave., who attended Wednesday’s public hearing on the matter, currently owns two businesses on the property. Shaffer said he wanted to put a modular home on the back of the property, which borders Route 40.
Before voting on the matter, township Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer expressed his concern over rezoning the area since a R-2 classification allows trailers to be put on the property.
Shaffer said the modular home will be placed on a foundation and will not detract from the property value.
“It’s a $110,000 home, not a trailer,” he said.
The motion to allow the property to be rezoned was approved by all supervisors, including Schiffbauer, Thomas Frankhouser and Rick Vernon.
Supervisors also conducted the following business:
– Hired township resident Lee England as a part-time code enforcement officer at $10 an hour. England, a former U.S. Marine and constable, will work a night shift and will be responsible for enforcing township ordinances and contacting the state police in case of emergencies.
– Accepted Jim Blosser’s resignation as emergency management coordinator, naming William Large as the new coordinator. Large is currently the chief of Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department and is also employed as a state police trooper.
– Approved a motion to advertise for a one-ton truck chassis, spreader box and plow. Also approved a motion to sell the township’s grader.
– Passed a resolution giving Schiffbauer authorization to sign an agreement with Ohio National releasing pension funds belonging to Ross Girard.
Girard served as the township’s full-time code enforcement officer until last month when supervisors voted to release him from his duties because of ongoing health problems. Supervisors wished Girard good health and luck in the future.