Trustees to vote on rezoning for 142 land parcels

County opposes zoning change for lack of an overall development plan.
HOWLAND -- Township trustees are expected to decide tonight whether to change the zoning classification for 142 parcels along state Route 46 from residential to commercial.
The parcels consist of 232 acres along Niles-Cortland Road between the Eastwood Mall and Sam's Club, said Darlene St. George, township administrator.
"This is an extremely important decision because it's a lot of property in a very busy area," said Trustee Rick Clark. "If we do decide to change it, it will have a big impact on our area for a long time."
Clark stressed that the residents in the area came to township officials requesting the change. There are numerous commercial developments on that street already, Clark said.
"It's also important to note that we have not heard from anyone in opposition to this change," Clark said.
Previous actions
The Howland Township Zoning Commission voted to recommend the change, but the Trumbull County Planning Commission has recommended the change be denied, said Mark Zuppo Jr., planning and zoning director for Howland.
The township zoning commission held a meeting Feb. 16 and voted 4-1 to recommend the zone change.
David Starr, chairman of the township zoning commission, has said the residents in that area are "strongly united in their request to have their area rezoned."
Stephen Musick, a township zoning commissioner member, was the lone vote against the zone change.
Musick said he felt there should be a more orderly way of making the area commercial than to just rezone it. He said he was in favor of considering a planned unit development.
The county planning commission ruled Feb. 1 to deny the change because there was not an overall development plan in place.
County officials said since there was no plan in place, granting the zone change may create sporadic commercial development within an existing well-defined residential neighborhood.
County officials also said the zone change could produce a negative impact on the integrity and property values of the residential area.