BUTLER TWP — A spot off Evans City Road is on track to be home to a new Mike Kelly Automotive dealership by next year, according to township commissioners.

Commissioners unanimously approved plans for a Kia dealership near the intersection of Evans City and Meridian roads on Monday, June 16. Ben Walls, of Sleighter Design, presented to the board prior to the vote.

Earlier this month, plans for the lot were presented to and approved by the township’s planning commission. There, township zoning officer Jesse Hines said the dealership presented a plan to build on a parcel of land that is about 5 acres and is zoned commercial.

Walls said at the Monday meeting plans include about 30,000 square feet of development. The company estimated the new dealership would bring as many as 45 new, full-time jobs to the township.

“The project represents a $6.9 million investment in Butler Township, an additional $1.8 million in property acquisition,” Walls said.

In an interview with Butler County Business Matters, Luke Kim, general manager for Kelly Automotive, said the new dealership would replace the current Kia location along Pittsburgh Road in Penn Township. Once the new location is complete, the previous one will be renovated to make room for Hyundai.

The board’s approval came with a list of stipulations, such as complying with township engineer letters, receiving approval from Pennsylvania American Water and receiving approval from the county planning commission.

After all of those steps, site work is estimated to begin in late summer or early fall. Tentatively, Walls said Kelly Automotive is looking to open the Kia dealership in spring 2026.