Council rejects rezoning land next to Delphi plant

Council rejects rezoningland next to Delphi plant
CORTLAND -- By a 5-2 vote, city council rejected a developer's plan to rezone six acres off West Market Street for residential use.
Developer Ed Repphun planned to build 10 homes on the land, owned by Delphi Packard Electrical Systems and adjacent to its plant.
The city's zoning and planning commission rejected the plan, but its decision was overturned by the board of zoning appeals.
The zone change was opposed by the majority of city council during two previous readings before it was given final rejection Monday night.
Opponents said that the zone change would reduce the amount of industrial land in the city and that residents of the new subdivision might eventually become annoyed by noise from the factory next door.
An earlier plan to rezone 11 acres next to the plant for residential use was rejected by both the zoning and planning commission and the board of appeals.
Trustee's home vandalized
LIBERTY -- The Keefer Road home of township Trustee Jack Simon has been vandalized with paint balls twice this week.
Simon told police four paint balls were fired at the house Sunday, damaging a screen. Monday, several balls struck the house without causing damage. The paint can be cleaned off the house.
Patio bar to open soon
WARREN -- Construction equipment on Pine Street is making way for a new nightspot.
Stephen Lardis, who owns the Horseshoe bar at Pine and East Market Street, hopes to open The Pines patio bar next month. A kitchen will be where Uncle Mick's rib restaurant used to be.
The Pines will be a separate business from the Horseshoe.
A crew was clearing the building that stood next to Uncle Mick's on Monday afternoon. The building most recently house the Duck, another bar.
Lardis bought the building last May.
Hearing postponed
NILES -- A preliminary hearing for a city man charged with vehicular manslaughter is postponed until next month.
Denny L. Shoemaker, 43, of High Street, was scheduled for court today, but the hearing was rescheduled to 9 a.m. June 2.
Police say Shoemaker was the driver of a vehicle that struck 15-year-old Dean Gillespie Jr., an eighth-grade pupil at Niles Middle School.
The accident occurred before 7 a.m. Jan. 16 at Leslie and Linden avenues. Gillespie, who suffered from seizures, was lying in the road when he was hit. He was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown. The coroner's office ruled he died of injuries suffered in the accident.
Smoking ban put off
LORDSTOWN -- Those who like to smoke while they play may get a few more months to do just that.
Village council Monday amended legislation that would ban smoking in all village buildings, including the administration building where the Lions Club hosts Friday bingo games.
Club members had asked council to reconsider, saying the ban would reduce the number of weekly players, thereby reducing their fund-raising efforts.
Council amended the ordinance so the ban would not take effect until Oct. 1. The issue will be voted on at the May 17 meeting.
Letter carriers' food drive
YOUNGSTOWN -- Residents of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties are asked to participate Saturday in the National Association of Letter Carriers 12th annual NALC National Food Drive by placing bags or boxes of nonperishable food items at their mailboxes.
The food will be picked up by carriers during their regular route and divided among local food pantries. The event, considered the largest one-day food drive in the world, will be conducted locally by members of NALC Branch 385.
The food drive takes place in some 10,000 cities and towns throughout the 50 states and United States jurisdictions. The project is coordinated locally by NALC Branch 385, the Postal Service, Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, AFL-CIO Community Services and Teamsters Local 377.