TRUMBULL COUNTY Panel mulls rezoning in Howland

The assistant police chief is retiring.
HOWLAND -- The township zoning commission is considering rezoning a residential neighborhood near the Eastwood Mall for commercial use.
Residents of Dawson Drive, Hiram Place and Kenyon Drive have been invited to meet with the zoning commission at 7:30 p.m. June 10 to discuss their vision for the neighborhood's future.
The neighborhood is just north of the mall complex. Two weeks ago, the zoning commission held a hearing on an informal petition from Dawson Drive residents calling for their street to be rezoned commercial.
The petition was signed by 75 percent of homeowners on the street, officials said. Many residents believe their property will be worth more money if it is zoned for commercial use.
"With Sam's Club coming in on one end, and the mall on the other end, [the zoning commission] thought they should talk with the residents on the other streets to express their feelings on what they would like as far as the future of the neighborhood," township administrator Darlene St. George said.
Earlier this month, the zoning commission rezoned an undeveloped area near Dawson Drive for commercial use so a miniature golf course could be built near Regal Cinemas.
In other business, trustees are expected to accept the retirement of Assistant Police Chief Karl Compton at a meeting today. It will be up to Chief Paul Monroe to name a replacement for Compton, who was with the department almost 33 years, St. George said.