Zoning request is approved in Weathersfield

By Mary Smith

MINERAL RIDGE — The Weathersfield Township Zoning Commission has approved a request from trustees to re-zone 40 acres off U.S. Route 422 to Commercial C.

The property will be considered a Joint Economic Development site, and commission chairman Fred McCandless said neighboring Niles city “has indicated it wants to work with Weathersfield” to attract new business into the area. He said there is currently no one interested in coming into the area.

The Commercial C classification allows for building large commercial projects.

There are about 35 privately owned properties in the area, which starts across the street from the Saturn dealership at First Street, which is a street on paper, at the south; and by the township line at the north, close to Niles-Vienna Road and north of Anderson-Morris Road; on the west by Route 422; and on the east by the township line.

The property is adjacent to McMenamy’s on Route 422, which was annexed to Niles. The land runs northwest of McMenamy’s.

Several residents asked the commission questions about the affect of the zone change, but there was no opposition, McCandless said. He said residents asked if their taxes would go up with the new Commercial C classification, but the commission told them they would not. If new business is developed, the new business owners would pay any new taxes.

Existing zoning on the property includes Residential-A for single family dwellings and Commercial-B for offices, banks and restaurants or similar businesses.

Trustee now must have a pubic hearing on the re-zoning before thay can act to pass it.