Friday, January 16, 2015GIRARD, Ohio -- Mayor James Melfi says he is looking forward to the recommendations the Trumbull County Planning Commission will make regarding the former Girard Leatherworks property and land adjacent to Vallourec Star as part of an update to the city’s comprehensive plan.
City Council recently voted to enter into a contract with the planning commission to do the plan, a process that will begin with an update of city data in the coming months. The updated comprehensive plan is expected to be finished in November 2017, the planning commission says.
Comprehensive plans typically include maps, charts and text that analyze existing trends and conditions of growth and make recommendations for the general development of the community.
“The planning commission completed our plan in 2000, and it has served our city well,” Melfi said. “The plan stated that more land should be set aside for public use. It was the foresight of that plan that helped to protect our city against a company who tried to place a landfill in the city of Girard.”
The commission offers comprehensive planning to all Trumbull County communities, said Trish Nuskievicz, executive director.
“Planning for the needs of a community, instead of reacting to them, can eliminate chronic problems, save tax dollars and reduce duplication of services,” she said. “I have put together a very strong and intelligent planning team and we are all looking forward to working with Girard on this update.”
Melfi said he is particularly interested in how the plan addresses the former Leatherworks property, which the city now owns following resolution of a 14-year lawsuit, Melfi said.
“That is 27-acres of prime real estate that is located adjacent to our park and US 422. I am excited to see what the planning commission recommends for that space. I personally would like to see some commercial activity, while being careful to protect the nearby residential neighborhoods,” he said.
Melfi also expressed interest in what the planning commission will recommend for property located near Vallourec Star.
“The city of Girard is in a different position than it was back in 2000. I look forward to see how this plan will shape our city over the next 15 years,” he said.
“Updating the comprehensive plan will help the city of Girard to move forward with economic development and ties in nicely with some of the other opportunities” such as the Leatherworks site, which recently received brownfields funding,” noted First Ward Councilman Stephen Brooks.
Last year, the planning commission completed comprehensive plans for Hartford, Bristol and Kinsman townships as well as the village of Newton Falls, and it’s in the final stages of an update to Champion Township’s comprehensive plan, Nuskievicz said.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
CLICK HERE to subscribe to our twice-monthly print edition and to our free daily email headlines.