Duferco wantsto buy Caparo land

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Duferco Farrell Corp. wants to buy property it is leasing from Caparo Steel Corp. in Farrell but must jump through several hurdles before the deal can be completed.

While the Farrell and Mercer County Regional planning commissions have a say in the proposed subdivision, the issue that must be addressed first is zoning, said city zoning officer Mark Yerskey.

Duferco has identified nine parcels of former Sharon Steel Corp. property that it wants to buy. They range in size from 0.023 acre to 95 acres but many of them violate the zoning ordinance’s provisions for lot coverage, setbacks, lot size and parking in an industrial zone, Yerskey said. Farrell Zoning Hearing Board has set a hearing for 4 p.m. April 28 in the city building to address Caparo’s variance request.

Duferco wants the sale to close at the end of April, Yerskey said. Although the final decision is up to the board, Yerskey said he has no problems with the request. Duferco officials could not be reached for comment.

The parcels Duferco wants are not all connected and include the main steelmaking operation, office buildings, phone equipment, an electrical power subplant, train and truck scales, a concrete pad with material-sensing equipment used for sorting and a vehicle-repair station. After the sale, Duferco would turn around and sell 10.35 acres to Haywood Industries, which is leasing space.

Duferco, a Swiss-based company, bought the steel-production equipment and other machinery from Caparo in December 1998, and began production the following May.

The company has invested more than $50 million in the Farrell plant’s hot strip mill, pickle lines and tandem mills.

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Duferco wants to buy Caparo land

Duferco wantsto buy Caparo land