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Canfield officials address residents’ concerns about Flower Mill property
By Elise Franco
Canfield
Township officials answered some questions but still have no resolution for residents’ complaints about the old Flower Mill.
Township Administrator Keith Rogers and Zoning Inspector Dave Morrison both addressed questions and complaints about the facility, located at 4575 S. Canfield Niles Road, during Wednesday’s trustee meeting.
Trustee Marie Cartwright said previously that after Shari Francis purchased the land several years ago, her partner Jim Steiner tried to have it rezoned from agricultural to industrial to open a towing business there, but his request was denied by the zoning board.
Morrison said rezoning the property in that way would be considered spot zoning, which he knew residents didn’t support.
Rogers said he contacted the county building inspector as well as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Transportation and the Cardinal Joint Fire District about inspecting for potential hazards.
He reported that Chief Building Inspector Jeff Uroseva went to the mill Oct. 28 but could not go onto the property unless invited by the owner.
“He did an inspection through the right-of-way and found no violations,” Rogers said.
Fire Chief Don Hutchison also told Rogers fire officials aren’t permitted on an agriculturally zoned property without permission.
Rogers said on Oct. 31 that the EPA conducted a water runoff audit to determine if dozens of mounds of street grindings stockpiled on the property were polluting the water. The grindings are about 30 feet from the edge of the property with a grass buffer in between, according to the EPA findings report.
The report, sent to the township by the EPA, said that the asphalt particles were too large to be transported by storm-water runoff.
Steiner told the EPA inspector that the materials would be used as fill on the property by summer of 2012.
Morrison said in addition to a citation issued Oct. 28 for stockpiling the grindings, Francis was cited for violating the township’s landscaping and screening provision by not having a barrier between the property and the residential neighborhood across the street.
Morrison said there has to be a 4- to 6-foot barrier in front of the piles.
In the citation, Morrison gave the property owner 14 days to abate the stated issues.
He said a vacant house on the property, which passed an inspection by the Mahoning County Health Department last week, is also in poor condition.
“They have taken out building permits to reroof and reside the home, as well as some interior renovation,” Morrison said.
He asked trustees if they would discuss declaring the property a nuisance.
“I hope we can find a resolution to this Flower Mill issue,” Morrison said.
Trustee Martha Zarlenga said several neighbors contacted an attorney who specializes in these types of matters. Zarlenga said she expects the attorney to interview residents living around the property and give a report at the next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 22.