`Residents offer their ideas on development along Rt. 18`

By Karen Coates
Herald Staff Writer

About 80 property owners packed Delahunty Middle School in Hermitage Wednesday night for a two-hour discussion of future development along South Hermitage Road.

Planners from Herbert, Rowland and Grubic Engineering and Related Services in Butler County helped prioritize their ideas. The consultants are conducting a $12,000 study of the corridor for the city of Hermitage.

Divided into two groups, those in attendance hashed out the strengths and weaknesses of future development along the roadway — which stretches from the Shenango Valley Freeway to the Shenango Township border.

A second point of discussion, and one of great concern to residents and city commissioners, was how that development may fit in the variety of zoning districts along the corridor. Currently a mix of residential, commerical, institutional zones, some argue the area should be exclusively commercial.

“We need to make sure it is zoned properly,” said Duane McCullough of 630 Reaney Lane, who commended the efforts of the city and planners for getting public input. “We don’t want it broken up.”

Peggy Ruggles of 635 Sugar Hollow Road said she was pleased residents and business owners were being given the chance to have a say.

“This lets us know that the future is just not decided by a board of five people,” Mrs. Ruggles said, referring to the five-member board of commissioners.

Among the opinions were:

ä Route 18 is ideal for commercial zoning because residential property values have declined there already.

Commercial development will further devalue properties.

Commercial development would bring more jobs.

One side of the road should be zoned commercial and the other residential.

The highway was widened to five lanes to keep traffic flowing; more businesses would slow it.
ä A five lane road is inappropriate for homes. The corridor should be anything but residential.

Zoning layout is a concern; planners should be wary of spot zoning.

Commercial zoning could increase the number of businsses there, but it could also draw away businesses from other locations and affect neighboring communities.

The corridor should be viewed as a gateway to the city. All entries to Hermitage should be tasteful and need to be landscaped. That should be kept in mind if the corridor is developed commercially.

If residential development doesn’t continue in the area, it could become a high-speed, drive-through community.

Worries about taxes going up if the corridor is turned from residential to commercial. City Manager Gary Hinkson said he expects planners will be able to give the city their recommendations by the end of the year.

Further discussion of the corridor is set for a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Artman Elementary School.

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Updated July 30, 1998
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