Fireworks facility edges past permit hurdle

NORTH LIMA — B.J. Alan Co. is edging closer toward building a fireworks warehouse off East Calla Road.

The Beaver Township Zoning Appeals Board granted B.J. Alan a conditional-use permit to build the facility — providing several requirements are met.

B.J. Alan Co., which owns Phantom Fireworks on Market Street, is looking to build a 360,000 square-foot warehouse — the size of four football fields — at the site, which is between Market Street and Woodworth Road.

The area is zoned industrial, meaning the construction of a warehouse there is permissible under the township’s zoning regulations.

But because the project involves fireworks, the zoning appeals board was permitted to place conditions on project.

The board, at Tuesday night’s public hearing on the matter, agreed the warehouse can store consumer, not professional, fireworks. There can be no manufacturing or assembling of any fireworks at the site. Also, fireworks cannot be sold there.

Once the facility is built, it cannot be occupied until water and sewer connections are in place and Calla Road is upgraded to support the truck traffic expected to and from the site.

Also, the setback in the front of the warehouse must be at least 200 feet from the edge of the right of way there.

“We’re willing to work with the township on this,” said William Weimer, B.J. Alan’s vice president and general counsel. “It’s important for the board to remember this warehouse is a permissible use under the township’s zoning resolution. The only question should be whether we are willing to comply with the conditions placed on this project. And we are.”

The estimated project cost is $18 million. The fireworks would be created in China, transported to the township via Cleveland and stored in the warehouse.

Some 100 people attended Tuesday's meeting, many of them leaving once the decision was made to approve the conditional-use request.