NEW CASTLE, PA. Zoning board rejects request on video store

The family maintains the law wasn't followed before the zoning was changed.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A city woman's bid to stop a video rental store from locating in her neighborhood failed.
The New Castle Zoning Hearing Board denied Rose Przybylski's request to invalidate two decisions made by city council that paved the way for Family Video to build on Wilmington Road.
Przybylski's daughter, Andrea, has said her family opposes the video store there because it is encroaching on a residential neighborhood.
The developer for Family Video is razing four homes and Point Grille to make room for the video rental store.
The Przybylski family lives on nearby Laurel Avenue.
Family's stance
The family contends city council did not follow proper procedure when it changed zoning for commercial use. It had previously been transitional zoning, which allows for homes and some small businesses.
Atty. Jonathan Robison, who represents the family, contends the city did not follow proper procedure when getting recommendations on the zoning change from the city and county planning commissions.
He argued that there was no proof the county planning commission saw the proposed zoning changes within the 30-day time frame set by law before council voted to change the zoning.
City Solicitor James Manolis said the city did get notice from James Gagliano, director of the county planning department, that those documents were received 32 days before a public hearing on the matter.
Robison said Rose Przybylski has not decided if she will appeal the zoning hearing board's decision to Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.