Legality of Family Store raises officials' questions

SHARON, Pa. -- City officials are questioning the legality of the Family Store opened by the Salvation Army Corps in its building at 660 Fisher Hill St.
Concerns about illegal parking on the south side of Fisher Hill Street in front of the Salvation Army building came up at Thursday's city council meeting and that led to a discussion of the store, which opened in the facility Sept. 3.
The Salvation Army is in the former Gamble Elementary School in a single-family residential district. Councilman Lou Rotunno said the agency agreed when it moved to that location that it would never have a thrift shop there.
Council President Fred Hoffman had the same recollection, adding that the SA also promised it wouldn't provide transient housing at the site. There is no housing at the building
Two views
Councilwoman Chris Outrakis agreed that a thrift shop isn't appropriate for that location. Atty. William Madden, city solicitor, said that although the Salvation Army church is permissible in a single-family residential zone, a thrift shop isn't.
The Salvation Army bought the school from the Sharon school district and moved its operations there in 1987 from a building at Pitt Street and Shenango Avenue in the downtown business district.
Maj. Ted Slye wasn't around when that move was made but he's in charge of the facility now.
Contacted after the meeting, he told The Vindicator he was unaware of any promises made regarding a thrift shop at the Fisher Hill Street building, but he said he did check with the city code enforcement office to make sure it was legal before opening the store.
"I wouldn't have opened it otherwise," he said.
Mayor David O. Ryan said he will look into the matter.
Frank Smeraglia, code enforcement officer, said the Salvation Army may have to seek a zoning variance to keep the store open.