BUTLER TWP — The owner of a local car dealership emerged on Monday as the winning bidder for a piece of unused Butler Township property.

Butler Township commissioners voted Monday to accept a bid of $306,000 from Dennis Baglier, the owner of Baglier Buick, for a 7.6-acre parcel of land on Comfort Lane, behind the Comfort Inn.

Township officials said Monday night that Baglier had told them he intended to use the land to store vehicles or add a vehicle repair shop to his business. Baglier did not attend Monday’s meeting and a message left Tuesday morning requesting comment wasn’t immediately returned.

Township zoning officer Jessie Hines said that the property is zoned C2, meaning it can accommodate a number of business types, such as repair services, in a mixed residential and commercial setting.

Township officials said they received two bids on the parcel, but the competing offer of $266,000 from the firm MLCM failed to qualify because the township is required by law to accept the highest bidder. Township manager Ed Kirkwood said that the firm had planned to develop the property.

The property was donated to the township 15 years ago by Premier Hospitality, but plans to construct a skating rink were never realized. Before advertising the parcel for sale, township manager Ed Kirkwood said an appraisal put the parcel’s value at $260,000.