HOWLAND Traffic worries officials

Township officials said they are not opposed to the new development.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
and DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Township officials are asking for a meeting with city officials from Warren and Niles and employees of the Ohio Department of Transportation to discuss concerns about a proposed project on state Route 46.
A letter was sent Tuesday to ODOT requesting the meeting, according to Darlene St. George, township administrator.
"We want to discuss traffic concerns, physical constraints and possible funding sources to provide for adequate infrastructure in this area," St. George said.
She said she does not know when the meeting will be held.
Warren officials said developers have proposed building a gas station, a 140,000-square-foot Super Sam's Club, and a 300-unit upscale apartment complex near the Lowe's store. Most of the property slated for development is in Warren.
City officials have not released the names of the developers.
Michael Keys, executive director of Warren Redevelopment and Planning, said the problem of traffic congestion already exists where state Routes 46 and 82 meet and he doesn't believe the development will significantly add to it.
"It may force the state to take a look at that intersection and do something about it," he said.
Here's the concern
Township officials, however, disagree. Officials said according to a traffic study book, the proposed development could mean an additional 20,000 two-way vehicle trips per day.
"While the majority of this property is located in the city of Warren, the effect of increased traffic will be felt regionally," St. George said.
"Not only will this pose an extreme hardship on the already overcapacity intersections at state Route 46 and state Route 82, but the devastating effect on state Route 46 north and south will be felt from the city of Niles to the city of Cortland."
St. George and Rick Clark, township trustee, stressed that officials are not opposed to development of the area.
"They have every right to develop," Clark said. "The traffic in that area is our concern."
Warren City Council earlier this month changed an ordinance that would have allocated $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant money for a 1,000-foot road off Route 46. The road would have opened the area for development, officials said.
Council instead allocated the money for neighborhood street resurfacing.
The move came after concerns voiced by several residents about the North Road connector project, another road project that would likely tie into the 1,000-foot road and is expected to get started several years from now -- if plans are approved.
sinkovich@vindy.com dick@vindy.com