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A Youngstown business wants city council to grant a zone change
Planning commission to make decision
YOUNGSTOWN
A business is asking city council for a zone change today to five parcels in the Smoky Hollow area, but the proposal first must go to the planning commission for a public hearing.
The request from Fireline Inc. is to change the zoning on properties on the corner of Watt and Adams streets and on Elk Street from multi-family residential to industrial green.
Fireline at 300 Andrews Ave. manufactures industrial ceramics for the aerospace industry.
The zone change to about 1 to 1.5 acres of land is for future development at Fireline, Mayor John A. McNally said.
Council is expected to refer the proposal today to the planning commission for a hearing before it returns to council for its consideration, the mayor said.
This is not related to a 75-percent, 10-year real property tax abatement the company is seeking.
Council postponed a vote on that abatement at its Dec. 21 meeting because of the property issue and the city is considering additional financial help to Fireline for its $5.76 million addition.
Council won’t vote today on the abatement as the other financial assistance isn’t finalized, McNally said.
A vote on the abatement is expected at council’s Jan. 18 meeting, the mayor said.
The $5.76 million expansion at Fireline would add 25,000 square feet of space to the facility that is already 91,000 square feet in size.
The expansion work would start in April and be done eight months later, according to the company’s tax-abatement documents.
The company employs 94 and within three years of the abatement, it would add 18 full-time workers and three part-timers, according to its application.
If the abatement is approved, Fireline would save $240,076 over the 10-year abatement and pay $80,025 in property taxes.