Date: Fri 26-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

P&Z-Hawleyville-zone-change

Full Text:

P&Z Weighs Comments On Hawleyville Zone Change Request

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has concluded its third separate

public hearing on a proposal to rezone land on Barnabas Road and Hawleyville

Road from residential to industrial use.

Applicants Steve Nicolosi, John B. and Doreen E. Cash, and Elizabeth J. and

Donald Leon Nichols are seeking a zone change from Residential R-1 to

Industrial M-4 for the property.

P&Z members took no action on the request. They are expected to act on it at

an upcoming meeting.

Generally, people with a financial interest in such a zone change spoke in

favor of it, and people living in the area without a financial interest a zone

change opposed the proposal.

Last January, P&Z members decided not to consider a second request from Mr

Nicolosi and others to rezone the land because it was a similar to a zone

change proposal the P&Z had rejected in June 1997.

Some of the land parcels sought for rezoning contain houses.

If the zoning for the land were changed to M-4 Industrial, it is unclear

exactly what would be built there, but any land use permitted in an M-4 zone

would be allowed, provided that site plans meet applicable zoning regulations.

Permitted uses in M-4 zones include laboratories, public utility complexes,

offices, printing plants, publishers, light industrial uses, wholesale

businesses and warehouses, among other uses.

In June 1997, when Mr Nicolosi had his initial zone change request pending

before the P&Z, he indicated he wanted to build a pre-fabricated building for

various industrial uses, including space for businesses such as radon

reduction, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning. That rezoning

request drew fire at a public hearing from some nearby residents who

questioned the wisdom of allowing industrial uses on that land.

In June 1997, when P&Z members rejected the first requested zone change, they

said an ongoing study on the economic development potential of Hawleyville had

not been completed and it would be premature to make a decision on increasing

industrial zoning there.

P&Z members have since approved the Hawleyville economic development study.