LORDSTOWN Hearings scheduled on additions, landfill

The meeting Tuesday will address two other zoning variation requests.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- The board of zoning appeals hearing regarding a proposed landfill here is still on.
Mayor Arno Hill, who also serves on the appeals board, said the meeting Oct. 28 will go on as scheduled.
A meeting also is scheduled Tuesday for board members to hear zoning variance requests from two homeowners wanting to put additions on their houses.
A spokeswoman from the planning and zoning office said it wasn't fair to make those with the construction requests wait until the request by Lafarge North America to operate a construction debris and demolition landfill was decided, so a separate hearing was scheduled.
Village officials said some residents were concerned that the Tuesday hearing was for Lafarge, but Hill said Oct. 28 is still the date.
"I know the folks from Lafarge seem to think that it's not going to happen, but it's still on," he said. Lafarge attorney Randy Rudloff has said he thought the hearing was off because village officials filed a lawsuit against Lafarge, the Ohio Envinronmental Agency and the Trumbull County Board of Health in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
The village is asking a judge to declare void a permit granted to Lafarge by the Trumbull County Board of Health to operate a landfill.
What was required
Under Ohio law, the health department was required to approve the application by Lafarge to operate the site, provided the application was correct. The permit was granted in August.
Hill said he understands from the village's attorney Paul Dutton that, despite the lawsuit, the board of zoning appeals can proceed with its hearing.
Hill said he is unsure if additional testimony will be taken at the continuation.
The original hearing took place last month, when representatives from Lafarge, which accepts granulated slag and other mill waste at its Newton Falls-Bailey Road site, requested a special-use permit from the board to operate a construction debris and demolition landfill at the same site under the name Lordstown Construction Recovery.
More than 150 residents from Lordstown and neighboring communities attended the meeting and expressed fears of increased traffic, increased noise, possible health hazards and possible odors.
After meeting for several hours and hearing presentations from those for and against the proposed landfill, the board continued the hearing to this month to allow board members to research the proposal further.
slshaulis@vindy.com