Canfield trustees object to land annex into the city

News release states annexation will violate JEDD project agreement

Staff report

CANFIELD

Canfield Township trustees filed an objection with the Mahoning County commissioners to the petition Canfield city filed earlier this week to annex a township property.

According to a news release, annexing the 22-acre property on Palmyra Road, south of U.S. Route 224, will violate the Joint Economic Development District project agreement between the city and township.

Trustee Chairman Brian Governor said Friday he cannot comment more on the opposition to the annexation or how it would violate the JEDD because the issue is being handled by the township’s legal representatives.

City council consented to the annexation Sept. 7.

The land, south of Route 224, is property of MALA Properties Ltd. of Canfield.

The annexation benefits the city by making the development of nearby Red Gate Farm, a city-owned property, a real possibility. The property discussed for annexation would connect Red Gate Farm to the city.

Red Gate is a 290-acre property on Leffingwell Road and US Route 62. The city purchased the land for $2.3 million 13 years ago and it has since sat undeveloped, bringing in $33,000 a year since 2014, with the city leasing 200 acres to Martig Farms of Beloit.

When Red Gate originally was purchased, city officials planned to annex the land, but they were unable to do so because the property did not abut the city border.

The Palmyra Road property, if annexed, will connect the city to Red Gate.

The city would receive income taxes, and the township would receive real- estate taxes.

City Manager Joe Warino said at a previous council meeting, “It’s a win-win for both.”

The final decision, expected within the next 60 days, will be made by the Mahoning County Planning and Zoning Commission.