HOWLAND TRUSTEES Land zoned commercial along state Route 46

Township officials said there was very little opposition to the zone change.
HOWLAND -- Applause filled the township administration building as trustees voted to rezone 142 parcels along state Route 46 to commercial.
The decision was made during Thursday's zoning hearing.
"This has been going on for a year and there have been so many discussions that I'm not sure what else there is to say," said trustee Rick Clark moments before voting to approve the change from residential. "The residents came to us and requested this be done."
Several residents, who have been waiting a year for the change, said they are pleased the trustees approved their request.
"This was the hardest decision to make, very emotional because these are our homes," said Joyce Aiello of Dawson Drive. She said the residents decided to ask for the zoning change because commercial property was being developed around their homes.
"The whole area is expanding," said Aiello. "We are hoping to find someone who will buy all the parcels."
Clark and Darlene St. George, township administrator, said there was very little opposition to the change. Two residents attended the meeting to voice objections.
"It's a quiet area and I just don't want this to ruin everything," said Eugene Nastasi.
The parcels cover 232 acres along Niles-Cortland Road between Eastwood Mall and Sam's Club, said St. George.
Back and forth
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., Howland planning and zoning director.
The township zoning commission held a meeting Feb. 16 and voted 4-1 to recommend the zone change.
The county planning commission voted 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.