SHENANGO VALLEY Enterprise zone board discusses options for expanded boundaries

Some officials don't want to see a residential area included in the designation.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- The Shenango Valley Enterprise Zone Corp. board wants to expand the zone's boundaries, but there's some debate over just how big that expansion should be.
There are suggestions that the zone be expanded within the municipalities where it already exists and others that additional municipalities be asked to join. There was even one suggestion that it be expanded east along the Interstate 80 corridor to include industrial land in the Mercer area.
The zone's board of directors kicked the idea around at a meeting this week and decided to again notify its member municipalities of the opportunity to expand it within their boundaries and to again ask West Middlesex and Shenango Township if they would like to join.
The enterprise zone was created by the state 19 years ago in Sharon and Farrell to aid them in attracting new industrial development. The state set up a low-interest loan pool to fund the effort, and the zone has since grown and become an independent, nonprofit corporation with about $1.2 million available in its loan pool.
It's been expanded several times and now also includes parts of Hermitage, Wheatland, Sharpsville, Greenville and Hempfield Township.
Now would be a good time to look at another expansion, said George Becker, board president.
Received one response
Gary Gulla, assistant city manager in Hermitage and a member of the zone's executive committee, said the member municipalities were sent letters in March notifying them of a chance to expand the zone.
The only response came from Hermitage, which is interested in getting LindenPointe, a planned technical park along Pa. Route 18, included in the zone.
Gulla suggested that the boundaries be expanded to include the entire municipalities of the current members.
It would expand the zone's reach, and could provide a chance to get some additional state financial aid, he said.
Michael Wilson, Sharpsville borough manager and a board member, said residential areas shouldn't be included in the zone expansion. That doesn't make any sense in terms of the zone's industrial development goal, he said.
Former Sharon Mayor Robert T. Price, another board member, said he is concerned residents will fear there is a danger of industrial encroachment into their neighborhoods.
Response to concerns
Atty. William Madden, the zone's solicitor, said such encroachment is unlikely.
Each municipality's own zoning laws would still take precedence over any zone expansion. Businesses would still be able to locate only where municipal zoning allows them to be, he said.
Tom Tulip, board treasurer, pointed out that the entire city of Farrell is already in the zone and there haven't been any problems there.
Sharon Mayor David O. Ryan, a board member, said all of Sharon's industrial land, as well as its commercial district, is already in the zone and he sees little reason to include residential areas.
Board member Mark Buskirk said the zone should look again at including Shenango Township and West Middlesex.
Both had indicated a desire to join in 2001, but the issue was never resolved because of some confusion over boundaries in their areas and opposition from some Shenango Township residents.
Wilson said a zone representative should appear before each municipal council to explain the purpose for an expansion and how it would affect them.
Price said the letter to be sent to those governments should insist on a reply by the end of the year.