Hermitage Planning Commission on Monday voted against a proposed commercial rezoning of nearly 15 undeveloped acres along the Shenango Valley Freeway.

Heritage Development Co., based outside Cleveland, has said it wants to develop a retail center on 28 acres near the freeway and state Route 18, known locally as South Hermitage Road.

Fifteen of those acres are zoned for offices and single-family homes. The developer has asked that those acres be rezoned a central commercial district.

The city planning commission's vote does not guarantee that a new plaza won't come to the busy intersection.

Its vote is a recommendation to the city commissioners, who are expected to vote next month whether to rezone the land. They could OK the rezoning request, despite unanimous recommendations against it by city planners and the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, which voted on the request last month.

The city commission voted against the request, 8-0.

Planners argue that the city has plenty of existing commercial acres which are either undeveloped or underdeveloped.

City Planning and Development Director Marcia Hirschmann said the city -- the third largest in the state by area at about 29 square miles -- has about 240 commercial acres which are either undeveloped or underdeveloped.