Officials worry about results of rezoning 15.8 acres

By PETER H. MILLIKEN
and TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County and Howland Township are concerned about a proposed city ordinance that would allow construction on a designated floodway.
The legislation would rezone from residential to commercial about 15.8 acres of vacant, wooded land along the north side of East Market Street abutting the township. The site is near Up A Creek restaurant.
The measure is scheduled for introduction at Wednesday's city council meeting.
The property owner, Martin Finegold, is requesting the zone change to enable construction of a commercial venture, according to city Councilman John Homlitas, D-3rd, sponsor of the legislation. The property is known as Finegold Parcel No. 1.
"It's not conducive to residential. This property is surrounded by commercial developments," Homlitas said.
Darlene St. George, Howland Township administrator, said Trish Nuskievicz, environmental specialist with the Trumbull County Planning Commission, and Mark Zuppo, township zoning inspector, are concerned about the land use.
The township has 100 acres of wetlands it bought from Finegold that have been used for wetland mitigation, St. George said.
The township owns about 300 acres of swamp between East Market Street and North River Road, including the 100 acres bought from Finegold.
Main concerns
St. George said Zuppo is concerned that water runoff from the site, if developed, would flood surrounding wetlands.
Nuskievicz said the 15.8 acres is a floodway rather than wetlands, because it's constantly under water -- not just when it rains. Trumbull County regulations prohibit construction on designated floodways.
The other concern, she explained, is that construction on the 15.8 acres would cause runoff that would drain into Mosquito Creek and flood land downstream in Niles.
If Warren were to issue a building permit at that site, Nuskievicz said, the city could lose its national flood insurance program designation. If that were to happen, she said, neither the city nor its residents would qualify for flood insurance or help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency should Warren flood.
Finegold said Monday that he plans to sell the land to a company so it could build a "big box" store such as a wholesale retail outlet.
Asked about the floodway status, Finegold said a study was done and determined the proposed site is "right on the border" of the floodway and can be developed.
Homlitas, meanwhile, said the rezoning would be a positive development that would "ultimately bring some jobs to the city." Homlitas declined to comment on the county and township concerns.
After the ordinance is introduced, the zone change would be considered by the city planning and zoning commission, and council will conduct a public hearing on it, Homlitas said.
Resurfacing project
Another ordinance to be introduced Wednesday would authorize city officials to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for reconstruction and resurfacing of East Market Street from Main Avenue to the eastern city limits.
The work would actually be done on the $2 million project in 2008, with 80 percent of the funding being federal and the remainder coming from the city, said William Totten, director of engineering.
Besides repaving, the work would include sidewalk and curb repairs, installation of new curb cuts for the handicapped and upgrading curb cuts.
milliken@vindy.com
yovich@vindy.com