COLUMBIANA — Two projects near downtown received the go-ahead from the city’s planning commission, but it wasn’t without some discussion regarding some possible issues resulting.

During Tuesday’s monthly meeting, commissioners held a public hearing regarding the planned occupancy of 516 E. Park Ave. by the Connection Church for a conditional use as well as a site plan review.

Pastor Aaron Hurd was on hand to outline plans for the space located near Firestone Park. A local residential property owner did express concern about stormsewer runoff issues which already are affecting the neighborhood. He also questioned if the extra traffic caused in the nearby parking area may exasperate the drainage issues.

Planning commission members acknowledged that the neighborhood issues may be able to be remedied through a city project currently being engineered in that area, so have tasked Deputy City Administrator Bryce Miner to contact Howells and Baird to inquire about it before approving the Connection Church action.

Barbara Farrand also spoke on behalf of the Seniors of Columbiana County Association regarding their conditional use zoning request and site plan review for a residential property at 145 S. Vine.

During this public hearing, Farrand explained that the non-profit was looking at converting the home into a clubhouse of sorts for the startup senior group that gathered for fellowship. For the past six months of meeting at Columbiana Public Library, typical gatherings have been mostly meetings to play Bingo, Yahtzee or Bunco or maybe going to lunch. The usual crowd is perhaps a dozen attendees, although they hope to see more eventually.

A real estate appraiser doing business across the street from 145 S. Vine had questioned what kind of activities would be going on and typically how many people attend, worrying about possible available parking for her clientele.

Planning Commission members advised Farrand that possibly approaching PNC Bank about using their lot, which could possibly hold extra guests’ vehicles if need be, may be an option.

In other action, planning commission members (without absent Dylan Fletcher and Scott Jones) also approved a site plan review for a food truck location at Tractor Supply as well as recommended the approval of an amendment to the zoning map for KDC Properties, which is asking for its zoned C4 properties to be R2 instead on Jenny Lane, as they have scrapped their plans for commercial structures there.