JACKSON TWP — Township residents want a grocery store.

That is one of the “opportunities” listed in the township’s comprehensive study, which was conducted this past spring and lists what residents think are strengths and weaknesses to the township. Seventy-one residents participated.

The study will aid the township in creating its five-year comprehensive plan set to be completed at the end of this year.

“So far, we’re getting great input from the community,” said township supervisor Trent Geis. “We’re taking advantage of that and we’re going to use it to try and meet the needs of the community.”

About 47 percent of the participants listed having a grocery store or restaurant as an opportunity for the area.

The good news for them is that restaurants are planned for developments by the Route 19/528 intersection. These include Jackson’s Pointe and the land off Route 528 by FedeEx owned by Plunkett Motor Freight Rentals.

Four “strengths” were listed in the study in a fairly even basis. These included the township’s “country feel/rural environment,” access to Interstate 79, winter maintenance and the ambulance and police services.

Four “threats” also were identified for the area. The biggest threat listed was the potential housing developments on Wise Road.

Geis said the development is property owned by Don Rodgers near the Connoquenessing Creek.

“From what I understand, there are going to be townhouses there,” he said. “I’m not sure why they would consider it to be a threat.”

A previous idea for the area was workforce housing, which Geis said is “off the table” now.

The second-biggest threat listed was traffic.

The biggest weakness identified by participants was the township’s “poor road conditions.”

The township paved roads this past year, including Fanker Road, Gudekunst Road, Textor School Road, Little Creek Road and Gregg Drive.

Geis said “about five or six” other roads are being looked at for improvements in the 2017 township budget.

Another opportunity listed by residents was a walking trail from the township to Zelienople.

One is being planned to connect the two from the Park and Ride on Route 528 to downtown Zelienople.