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Fairfield Twp. company eyes major expansion

COLUMBIANA — PHD Manufacturing, an industrial plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire protection company, plans to relocate three existing roll-forming lines and build a new roll-forming line in a new, 62,500 square-foot building at its current site on 44018 Columbiana-Waterford Road.

Fairfield Township Zoning Officer Kymberly Seabolt advised trustees during Thursday’s meeting the company, which manufactures strut, a roll-formed steel shape produced in 10- and 20-foot lengths, said it was a “great expansion” and the new building will be constructed to the east of the existing facility.

Hively Construction Co. of Canfield is the general contractor on the building that will be 26 feet high at the eaves.

The company website said it is a leading manufacturer in commercial and industrial plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire protection industries since 1972.

Seabolt said PHD has been a good company in the township and set a board of zoning appeals public hearing for 7 p.m., June 6 on the company’s application to the zoning office requesting permission to construct the new building to expand existing operations.

This property is zoned light industrial and the meeting, which will be held in the township administration building at 3062 Fairfield School Road, is open to the public.

Seabolt said all interested parties are invited to attend.

PHD said it has 30 professional sales representatives supporting the plumbing, mechanical and electrical industries. Its Columbiana manufacturing plant, together with 23 stocking warehouses throughout the United States, gives it one of the largest inventories in the industry.

Trustee Chairman Bob Hum asked about increased employment and Seabolt there was no mention of it in the letter to her office.

According to its website, the PHD product line includes: pipe hangers, beam clamps, roller supports, clamps, brackets, threaded accessories, nuts, bolts, fittings, braces, as well as strut product that include channel, clamps, nuts, inserts, fittings, braces, brackets, bases, and more. PHD also carries Fire Protection and Seismic products featuring CPVC straps and sway brace fittings.

For the new building, the company proposed a 100-foot front setback, more than the 50-feet required and a 30-foot setback to the east where 25 feet is required.

The proposed setback in the rear is 380 feet.The maximum building height permitted is 35-feet and the building is proposed to be 31- feet to 32 1/2 feet high.

The company is requesting underground electric service from Ohio Edison and will contact the city of Columbiana for fire safety input. It said the building wil be equipped with a fully automatic fire protection system and device alarms.

In other business, trustees heard a presentation regarding obtaining electric and gas aggregation from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC).

Brenda Fargo, the member development director, said the township had three choices, to stay with First Energy Solutions, sign up with a broker, or join NOPEC.

She explained that with a larger group, customers have more leverage in obtaining lower electric and gas rates.

NOPEC has more than 130 members and serves 170 communities in 10 counties with 10 townships in Columbiana County.

Hum said trustees had a consensus that the township would like to have one company provide both electric and gas aggregation.

Fargo outlined the procedure to become a NOPEC member and trustees will study the issue more before taking action.

lshields@salemnews.net

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