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Salem committee to hear zoning request

SALEM — A request to rezone a vacant lot on the northwest corner of South Howard Avenue and West Wilson Street from residential to commercial will now come before the Rules & Ordinances Committee of city council.

Both council and members of the city Planning Commission met briefly Tuesday night for a public hearing about the request being made by the property owner, Halverstadt Properties.

David Halverstadt Jr. spoke on behalf of the request, explaining his family has owned the property for at least 20 years. At one time there was a home on the lot, but it was torn down 10 years ago and the lot has been up for sale with no takers. He said he was seeking the change in zoning to allow for something to be put there for a business.

There were no firm plans, but he said there’s some potential interest for a small auto repair shop, which is a permitted use in a C-2 General Commercial Zone. The request is to rezone the .2204-acre parcel from RA Multiple Family to C-2 General Commercial.

No one spoke in opposition to the request.

Planning Commission member Barb Loudon asked if the neighbors had been contacted. Halverstadt said he’s talked to the neighbors. City Planning & Zoning Officer Chip Hank, who serves as executive secretary of the Planning Commission, said notices were sent to the neighboring properties regarding the meeting. The notice explained the purpose of the meeting was for rezoning and even said the rezoning was for the future construction of a commercial building.

No other discussion took place. Once the Rules & Ordinances Committee meets and decides whether to forward the rezoning issue to council for approval, the action will likely have one reading, then come before the Planning Commission before returning to council for approval or disapproval.

The property is across the street from a C-2 General Commercial Zone.

During the regular city council meeting, Councilman Geoff Goll announced the need for a Utilities Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 to allow the Salem Utilities Commission to go to bid for a project to move sewer lines on South Lincoln Avenue at Pidgeon Road ahead of the intersection widening by the Ohio Department of Transportation. When the sanitary sewer lines were put in place to serve the Kent State University Salem campus, the state gave permission for them to be placed on the state’s right-of-way. For the widening project, though, the underground utilities must be moved by a deadline of May 1.

The engineer’s estimate for the cost of the project is $67,000. Goll, who chairs the Utilities Committee, said he’ll be asking for all three readings of the ordinance before council that night, after the committee meeting. According to the probable schedule for moving the sewer lines, the bid opening could happen as soon as Feb. 27 and the Salem Utilities Commission may call a special meeting for March 2 to award the contract.

In other business, Councilman Andrew Null announced he’s scheduling a Finance Committee meeting for 6 p.m. Feb. 20, with the agenda to be announced at a later date. Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart reminded council members that the Salem Utilities Commission will hold its regular meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Goll reported that he spoke to the contractor in charge of demolishing houses owned by the Columbiana County land bank and talked about the fact that well over a year ago, the city received a letter saying the demolition project for houses on the list in Salem would be put out for bid, but nothing has occurred. He asked the contractor why it was taking so long and he went over the numbers with Goll and explained there are many more units in the southern end of the county that need taken down. Goll questioned why all the demolitions in the last three years had occurred in the southern end of the county.

“I hope that in 2018, action is taken,” he said.

He pointed to members of the Beautification Committee of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce in the audience, who have been to meetings and asked questions about the dilapidated house coming down. He pointed out that they’re talking about properties where there are “rats, raccoons, kids smoking dope” etc. As properties owned by the land bank, he said it’s their responsibility. He added if the county doesn’t want to do something about it, maybe it’s time for the city to look at it. He said it’s taking way too long for the program to take care of the problem and it’s time for the program to come to Salem.

Council members welcomed their new member, recently-appointed Second Ward Councilman Ron Zellers, who took his oath of office prior to the meeting from his son, city Law Director Brooke Zellers, who also welcomed him along with Mayor John Berlin. The new councilman thanked everybody for their kind welcome. Council approved resolutions honoring former city Treasurer Dr. John Conrad, former At Large Councilman Brian Whitehill, former Second Ward Councilman Clyde Brown and former city Health Commission Richard Setty for their dedication and service to the city. Brooke Zellers also recognized outgoing Parks Director Steve Faber, saying he’ll be missed, not just for everything he’s done for the parks but also for his spiritual guidance at council meetings in always giving the invocation.

“When I think of the parks, I admit I think of Mr. Faber,” Brooke Zellers said. “He’s a great public servant and a friend to the parks.”

Both Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey and Councilman Sal Salvino talked about the recent weather. Dickey reminded property owners that it is their responsibility to shovel the sidewalks in front of their properties. She thanked all those people who have been out shoveling and taking care of each other, clearing parking lots, drives and sidewalks, including the city crews for their work on the streets. Salvino commended the city street department for their clearing of the streets. He explained he came out of the restaurant he manages on Friday evening after the combination of freezing rain, sleet and snow and almost fell on the sidewalk, wondering to himself what State Street would be like. He said he got out there on the street and it was beautiful.

“We thank you for doing that, for doing what you do,” he said.

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