One by one, dozens of folks living in Vienna didn't mince words Thursday, telling the zoning board not to re-zone nine acres along Route 82 near Warner Road.

 

The plans called for a new Dollar General Market store to take up about a third of that acreage.

Property records show former Vienna Township trustee Robert Root owns the land.
While he didn't come to Thursday's meeting - many upset about the plans raised concerns about a conflict of interest.
Others said the township already has a Dollar General and doesn't need another.
After a short while in executive session, the board unanimously voted down the measure.

We caught up with resident Joe Muccio after the meeting, relieved that the board, in his mind, did the right thing.

"There wasn't one person who was in favor of it. So we're all on the same side, so this should go through without a problem," he said. "If it doesn't, then we've got bigger problems than what we're dealing with tonight."

None of the board members would go on camera, but one told 21 News off camera that the combination of the public outcry and lack of evidence that the rezoning would benefit the township led to the 4-0 defeat, with one board member abstaining.
The board's decision is final, but there is recourse through common pleas court in Trumbull County. 

We tried to contact Robert Root at the numbers on file but could not reach him for comment.