Buffer zone proposed for border areas

Council approved a zone change for a new Walgreens.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council members say a proposed "buffer zone" around the city will protect city residents and those in nearby townships.
The proposed law would keep industrial businesses and other unwanted uses from abutting residential neighborhoods on New Castle's borders, said council President Christine Sands.
It's unclear how the city will be able to regulate the townships that abut it.
But Sands said the proposal was first made in 1999 when the city started work on new zoning laws. Work on those zoning laws was never completed, she said.
The issue came to a head last week when a developer started clearing trees in Shenango Township, just feet from homes on the city's East Side, for a proposed road. The developer, Robert Bruce, has said the road would lead to the back part of his industrial park, located off of Pa. Route 65. The road and industrial park are located in Shenango Township, but abut the city border.
New Castle Councilman Will Quimby said the new zoning law would benefit township residents also. It would not permit the city to allow industrial facilities to abut township residential areas, he said.
Market study
In other business, Sands said the city is considering hiring the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities to conduct a market study. The study will cost $50,000. Sand said the city hopes to pay for it out of enterprise zone funds.
"We have the downtown, but we're not having the businesses come in. We have to do something to fill the stores," she said.
A $5 million downtown revitalization project was started two years ago, aided by a state grant. Roads were resurfaced and new sidewalks, light poles and traffic signals were installed downtown.
Council also approved a zoning change for a portion of Wilmington Road where Walgreens Drug Store wants to locate.
The area had been zoned residential, but is now a transitional zone. The zoning change permits commercial businesses such as drugstores.
cioffi@vindy.com