Daniel Styduhar said he had many of the same concerns that opponents to putting up a Humane Society of Mercer County building on the main drag in Farrell have expressed.

But the chairman of the Farrell Zoning Hearing Board said he was surprised when opponents turned out in force at Monday's Farrell council meeting after the city's zoning board approved construction of the office, kennel and retail store at Roemer Boulevard and Fruit Avenue on Sept. 20.

"The zoning hearings are publicized ahead of time and there was no one there to object to it," Styduhar said.

Styduhar said he had reservations about allowing the building because he was not sure that it fit the commercial zone. He said he quizzed society representatives about other locations, and they said other sites were too costly, had environmental problems or were too small.

"The mayor was certainly for it," he said of William Morocco. "He gave about a half hour spiel in favor of it."

As to whether any noise or smell would emanate from the building, "I think we interrogated the humane society at length about it," he said.

Styduhar said he was satisfied with the society's explanation that animals would be kept in an enclosed kennel and only taken outside to walk in a fenced area.

"There wouldn't be howling outside," he said.

Animal waste also would be handled in a manner to cut down the chance of smell, he said.

"I think they answered most of our questions to our satisfaction," said Styduhar, who voted with Joseph Fordeley to grant a variance.

The board's third member, John Brown, voted against the variance and appeared with opponents Monday.

The Shenango Valley Ministerial Association has said it plans to appeal the decision to Mercer County Common Pleas Court, should the society stick with its plans.

Society board president Rick Harakal said he received four calls Wednesday from people interested in selling land to the society for the building.

"I've been taking addresses and phone numbers," he said. "We're going to go look at them and see if it's anything we can afford."

The Roemer-Fruit site still is a possibility, he said, but added. "If we're not wanted here, we're not wanted here."

"I think this building and this organization would be a plus for the city," he said. "I've been a Farrell resident all my life. I only want good things for Farrell."

In response to Harakal's claim that he would like to meet with opponents, the ministerial association has called about setting up a chat.

The Rev. Martha J. Sanders, who acted as spokeswoman for the association at the council meeting, said she called Harakal at the request of association president the Rev. Joseph Davis.

Rev. Sanders said Monday or Tuesday are possible meeting dates, but she's waiting for Harakal to call back with a firm date and time.

She said she had no idea what might be discussed.

"We want to hear what he has to say," she said. "This is in compliance with what he's saying."