BUTLER TWP — The project engineer for a planned shopping center in the township said Monday he believes the restaurant chain Bob Evans pulled out of the project in part because of the construction timeline.

Zedan Jones of United Growth said losing the restaurant was a big blow to the development on New Castle Road, which broke ground Monday and will house a Dick’s Sporting Goods, Starbucks, Mattress Firm and Sport Cuts.

“They (Bob Evans) were the one tenant everyone seemed to be excited about,” Jones said.

Jones told the township commissioners Monday night he believed the chain was curtailing new store construction nationwide as part of a corporate directive, but that the project’s timeline also played a role in the company’s decision.

Zedan said developers expect to have at least one store in the development, Dick’s Sporting Goods, complete by the end of 2015, but completion would be “rubbing up against the end of the year.”

Bob Evans’ corporate office did not return a message left Monday seeking information on the decision.

The restaurant chain’s withdrawal from the project spurred a major revision to United Growth’s plan for the plaza and resulted in layout changes Jones said would not allow a restaurant to be built there.

Jones said that is because the remaining, undeveloped parcel isn’t large enough to house such a business.