City council OKs major zoning change for area

Council endorsed statewide ballot initiatives opposed by the city's mayor.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- It took a while, but city council approved a major zoning change for the Wick District-Smoky Hollow area.
The next step for Wick Neighbors Inc., the nonprofit agency in charge of the project, is to request proposals from developers interested in the $250 million proposal, said Margaret Murphy, its executive director.
Wick Neighbors plans to advertise for developers by the end of the year, she said.
Council approved the zone change of the 66-acre Wick District-Smoky Hollow area to a planned development overlay by a 5-2 vote Wednesday night.
Councilmen Rufus G. Hudson, D-2nd, and Mark Memmer, D-7th, voted against the proposal. Hudson and Memmer also voted against passing the zone change by emergency legislation two times at October meetings.
What it allows
The designation permits the organization to rezone the site at once instead of a piecemeal process. The area was zoned general residential, industrial limited and institutional.
"This issue has been disposed and we can now open the door for development," Murphy said.
Most council members say just because they support the zoning change, they don't plan for the city to provide financial assistance to the proposal.
The area is bounded by Wick, Andrews, Rayen and Madison avenues.
This is only the second overlay zoning classification given by the city. The first was to Mahoning County Chemical Dependency Program Inc. on Vestal Road.
Backing initiatives
Also, council voted 6-1 to support four initiatives on Tuesday's election ballot that supporters say will reform Ohio's election system. Mayor George M. McKelvey, a Democrat, is a co-chairman of Ohio First, a largely Republican-connected group opposed to Issues 2, 3, 4 and 5.
McKelvey crossed party lines last year when he endorsed the re-election of President Bush, a Republican. The only Youngstown councilman to vote against supporting the initiatives was Richard Atkinson of the 3rd Ward, the only Republican on the legislative body.
McKelvey said he respects his council's vote. Hudson, who sponsored the resolution to support the initiatives, said, "This is America. You can take sides on any issue."
Council also approved an agreement to lease up to $3.5 million worth of equipment at its convocation center as part of a plan to provide financial flexibility for the facility and help make up a projected funding gap.
Council voted to waive formal bid requirements and enter into an agreement for about $81,000 to have the roof at the North Pool bathhouse replaced.
skolnick@vindy.com