Stand on tax break hinges on trustees

The trustees and South Range school officials
oppose a tax-relief plan
for B.J. Alan.

By VIRGINIA ROSS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NORTH LIMA — Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said he hasn’t yet decided whether to support a plan that could provide the B.J. Alan Co. with some tax breaks in Beaver Township.

Traficanti, speaking to about 40 residents on Tuesday at a township crime watch meeting, said he’s waiting to see where the township trustees stand on the matter.

“My mind isn’t made up yet,” he said. “I do believe a majority of the [county commissioners’] board is in favor of the abatement. I’d like to know how the township trustees stand. When I see a resolution from the trustees saying they are opposed to the abatement, that may sway me.”

Traficanti, a North Lima native seeking another term as county commissioner, said B.J Alan representatives have asked the commissioners to support a plan that calls for an enterprise zone to be established in an area off Calla Road, where the Youngstown-based company has proposed building a fireworks warehouse.

An enterprise zone is an area that allows for new businesses to receive tax breaks for a designated number of years. Current businesses could also qualify for tax relief when they expand or add onto their structures. The abatement would only apply to the new portion of the structure.

In this case, the county commissioners or township trustees may pursue establishing an enterprise zone in Beaver. Officials could then decide whether to seek the Regional Chamber’s help in putting the plan into motion.

Ted Lyda, trustee chairman, said representatives from the chamber brought the tax-relief plan to township officials last year after the township zoning appeals board granted B.J. Alan a conditional-use permit to build the warehouse.

Lyda, who was at the crime watch session, said the trustees are looking at drafting a resolution opposing the proposed tax abatement plan. He said the trustees likely will vote on the matter at next month’s regular public meeting.

The South Range Board of Education also has opposed the tax abatement.

Meanwhile, although it’s been just over a year since the company was granted the conditional-use permit, as of Tuesday, B.J. Alan hadn’t picked up any of the paperwork from the township’s zoning office.

During a telephone conversation Tuesday night, William Weimer, B.J. Alan’s vice president and general counsel, said the company is still working on plans for the warehouse and that there are “several pieces to this puzzle” and several of which that have to come together.

He confirmed the company is waiting to see whether the tax relief plan gets the OK from township officials.

B.J. Alan Co., which owns Phantom Fireworks on Market Street, has proposed building a 360,000-square-foot warehouse at the site off Calla, 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. The estimated cost of the project is $18 million.