REDEVELOPMENT Planners' vote on zoning is delayed

The commission will discuss the project again next month.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Wick District-Smoky Hollow redevelopment project hit a snag when the city planning commission put off voting on the proposal's zone classification change until next month.
Wick Neighbors Inc., the nonprofit agency behind the redevelopment project, was seeking the commission's recommendation Tuesday to change the zoning classification of the area.
The area is zoned general residential, industrial limited and institutional. Wick Neighbors wants to have the 66 acres rezoned as a planned development overlay.
That would allow the agency to get permission from the city to rezone the 66 acres at once, instead of a piecemeal process, said Bill D'Avignon, the city's deputy director of planning.
The agency has a detailed map that divides the area into different zoning classifications.
"It allows flexibility and allows someone to conceptualize a development and get approval for the entire plan," D'Avignon said.
According to D'Avignon, the city has approved the zoning classification only once -- to Mahoning County Chemical Dependency Programs Inc. on Vestal Road.
Stalling factors
The commission heard testimony Tuesday from supporters of the Wick proposal.
However, a number of circumstances forced the commission to temporarily halt the hearing Tuesday and order it to be reconvened June 21.
The planning commission, which is also the city's board of zoning appeals, had three other matters to consider Wednesday. The agenda called for each matter to take 15 minutes, but none did. One took almost 45 minutes.
The seven-member commission only had four members -- just enough for a quorum -- in attendance. The first hearing started at 1:30 p.m., and was supposed to wrap up at 2:30 p.m.
Member Irving Lev had to leave by 3:30 p.m. for an appointment. When he left, the commission no longer had a quorum, and couldn't act on the Wick District-Smoky Hollow proposal.
More supporters of the proposal wanted to discuss it with the commission, so Law Director Iris Guglucello, the commission head, chose to have the hearing reconvene at next month's meeting.
Continuing with plans
While the Wick District-Smoky Hollow presentation went longer than the 15 minutes it was allotted, it was further delayed by questions related to the design of the proposal.
"We were there for zoning overlay approval and there were questions raised about design review," said Margaret L. Murphy, Wick Neighbors' executive director. "There are two approval processes, and somehow it got confused. We approached this in a most professional way. We'll be back."
If the zoning classification is approved by the planning commission, the commission must forward the recommendation to city council. Council then must hold a public hearing on the proposal within 30 days, and then vote on it. It takes six members of the seven-member city council to overturn a planning commission recommendation.
Wick Neighbors unveiled a plan in April to revive the city's Wick District-Smoky Hollow area. The $250 million mixed-income, mixed-use project features a three-acre & quot;central park; & quot; more than 500 townhouses, condominiums, single-family homes and apartments; commercial and retail space; senior citizen housing; and office space.
Of that $250 million, about $12.5 million is needed for infrastructure work.
The goal is construction of the first homes and renovation of some existing homes in 2006.
Other projects
The other item in front of the commission was a request by Nicole L. Rickett of Cleveland for a planned development overlay zoning classification for 27 acres on Early Road on the city's East Side.
Rickett has an agreement to purchase the property, and wants to spend close to $15 million to build an amusement area with a go-cart racetrack, an indoor pool, and a 1,000-seat outdoor theater with 24 apartments.
Rickett admits she hasn't yet raised enough money to purchase the property, worth about $25,000, and has no experience with projects such as this.
Several residents on and near Early Road spoke against the proposal, and the commission voted to not recommend the zone change.
skolnick@vindy.com