The citizens who strongly opposed a new Pilot Flying J truck stop have appealed the Warren County commissioners’ decision in court.

The commissioners approved 2-1 the Pilot Flying J truck stop site plan with 24 conditions on Feb. 21. Neighbors had 30 days to take their case to the common pleas court.

The site is located at Ohio 123 and Interstate 71 in Turtlecreek Twp.

The group that calls itself Citizens for Responsible Development spent more than $12,000 fighting the project at the commission level now has taken their fight up a notch.

Spokesperson Tony Collins said the decision to fight the truck stop in court was not taken lightly.

“We spent considerable time and personal resources to conduct extensive research and develop valid legal arguments during the county commission hearings, so we were disappointed with the decision,” Collins said.

“But, because of the love for our community, the group remains committed for the long term to doing all they can to make sure that growth is aligned with the interests and character of the area.

“We had no choice but to take this to the next level,” he said.

The dozens of neighbors came to several commission meetings armed with research and power point presentations, showing truck stops can be havens for crime, pockets of pollution and a negative impact on property values, to name a few of the problems they cited.

“This is the community in which we have chosen to raise our families,” said Ellen Hall, a Turtlecreek Twp. resident and community group member. “It’s incumbent upon all of us to make sure we preserve what makes the Lebanon area special.”

Pilot Flying J plans to build a $9 million truck stop/travel center on 10 acres that would include 94 overnight parking spaces for truck drivers, a deli, a Wendy’s restaurant with a drive-thru and multiple fuel pumps.