Councilman brings new idea for rezoning

A councilman no longer favors extending Hazel Street as part of this plan.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Councilman Artis Gillam Sr. is proposing changes to legislation on a plan to link Youngstown State University to downtown.
Gillam, D-1st, organized a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Lincoln-Rayen-Wood development district proposal with YSU officials and business owners in that area.
Some business owners oppose the plan largely because it recommends rezoning the 38-acre area to industrial, a designation that complies with the city's 2010 comprehensive land plan.
The owners claim the industrial designation would devalue their property and/or business.
Because of that, Gillam, whose ward includes that part of the city, will sponsor legislation at Wednesday's council meeting to remove the plan's recommendation to rezone the area industrial.
The current zoning classifications would remain and the city would perform a study of the area to determine its appropriate zoning, he said.
Council will have an opportunity Wednesday to accept or reject Gillam's recommendations.
The proposed development district area takes in 38 acres bounded roughly by Commerce Street as well as Lincoln, Fifth and Wick avenues.
Business college
YSU wants to build a $30 million new YSU College of Business Administration on Phelps Street as the area's cornerstone project.
The proposal also would extend Hazel Street to provide another connection between YSU and the downtown area.
Gillam no longer supports extending Hazel Street, saying other streets connect YSU to downtown.
The development district designation would give the city the power of eminent domain to take property needed for this project if owners don't agree to sell. The city's planning commission recommended May 16 that council approve the designation.
The project's first phase calls for the city to purchase only one property from an owner who doesn't want to sell. That property is Grenga Machine & amp; Welding Co. on West Rayen Avenue, owned by Joseph Grenga.
skolnick@vindy.com