The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Wednesday, October 2, 2002


Rezoning request
turned down

By Kristen Garrett
Herald Staff Writer

Sharon Planning Commission Tuesday denied Roy Atkinson's request to rezone property so he can put up billboards.

Atkinson, a Hermitage resident, approached Sharon council in August and asked it to consider rezoning the area around his 943 Thomas Ave. property, near the Ohio line from institutional to central commercial. Council told Atkinson he had to go before the planning commission first.

The commission makes a recommendation and then council renders a decision.

City planners unanimously rejected a rezoning.

"I don't believe they did what they did," Atkinson said after the vote. He said for a year and a half he's been working with city officials, trying to get everything in order so he could erect the billboards. PennDOT regulations require a central commercial designation before the agency gives permission for billboards.

Zoning and Code Officer Frank Smeraglia explained an institutional area includes homes and offices; a central commercial district is strictly businesses with some second- and third-floor apartments over them.

Atkinson, who was already granted a variance to run a garage on his property, told the commission rezoning the area from institutional to commercial would improve property values in the long run. He said many property owners in the area are struggling to keep up the value of their properties.

Though Atkinson said he thinks rezoning the whole block would be beneficial, he has said he's only really concerned about his 3 acres.

Bernard Hrabosky said he lives next to Atkinson's property and doesn't want to see it rezoned, not only because of the many children in the neighborhood, but also because of the increased traffic of a commercial district.

The Mercer County Regional Planning Commission recommended to Sharon's commission that the area not be rezoned central commercial.

Planning Commission President John Outrakis said he thought the city board should follow the recommendation of the county planners because they have more insight into such matters.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Kristen Garrett at kgarrett@sharonherald.com



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