Zoning debate tense

A trustee told a resident to leave the meeting.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- A split vote allows a controversial planned unit development to proceed to the next step in its application process.
Township trustees voted 2-1 to follow the recommendation of the zoning commission and the Mahoning County Planning Commission and allow a zone change for land at Gibson and Turner roads from agricultural to planned unit development.
Developer Jim Dicioccio of Dicioccio Construction Ltd. plans 172 units, including condos, free-standing villas and single-family homes. Sixty-five acres would be zoned PUD for the villas and condos, and 55 acres would include R-1 homes. The proposed development is called Bella Nicolina.
The county planning commission recommended approval of the zone change May 23, and the township zoning commission, with a vote of 3-2, recommended the change June 1.
Neighbors told trustees that they worried about crowding, traffic and environmental issues. Some said the plan isn't harmonious with the rest of the area's horse farms and 14 single-family homes.
PUDs allow for a density of 3.4 units an acre in the township. Joe Gonda, who is associated with the project through Buckeye Civil Design, pointed out that the density for Bella Nicolina is lower. He said the township would allow for 130 units in the PUD, but the developer only plans 117.
People who live at one of Dicioccio's developments in Poland, James Place on Clingan Road, as well as some Canfield residents came to the meeting to support him.
"That man builds one heck of a unit," said Mike Sorriento of James Place.
Disagreement
During a portion of the meeting when opponents spoke, however, discussion got heated. Trustee Bill Reese ordered one man to leave.
Michael Garvey of South Turner Road said traffic patterns, density, and whether the plan was in harmony with the surrounding area are not the only concerns.
"Another concern that we share with the community is that the trustees may be susceptible to threats," he said. "We don't have resources at our disposal to match resources of developers."
Garvey went on to ask whether the application hadn't been granted already. Reese told him to get out or he would be arrested. Garvey left immediately.
Reese said later Garvey had threatened him. Trustees Paul Moracco and Randy Brashen also said they believe Garvey threatened them. Asked how, Reese said he ruled Garvey out of order -- and he kept talking.
"You cannot threaten, cannot swear, cannot tell blatant lies," Reese said. "He doesn't have the right to accuse us."
Brashen said the threat was to his integrity.
Reese voted against the plan, saying before the vote that DiCioccio refused to listen to his suggestion to alter the plan so that all the R-1 homes were on Gibson Road.
The zone change is only the first step in the PUD process. Dicioccio now must have his plan approved by the county and township boards.