Canfield residents complain about blight

By Elise Franco

efranco@vindy.com

Canfield

Residents filled township hall to discuss a property they say needs immediate attention.

A half-dozen residents who live near the former Flower Mill on state Route 46 asked trustees during Wednesday’s meeting what will be done to clean up the blighted property at 4575 S. Canfield Niles Road.

Kevin Velasquez, who lives in the Whispering Meadows neighborhood, said the large, dilapidated building and piles of street grindings on the property are an eyesore that trustees need to address.

“As elected trustees ... the Ohio Revised Code gives you the teeth needed to enforce [action on] blighted property,” Velasquez said.

Trustee Marie Cartwright said when the property owner purchased the land several years ago he tried to have it rezoned from agricultural to industrial and open a towing business there, but his request was denied by the previous board.

Cartwright said the current board and township Zoning Inspector Dave Morrison are working to determine what needs to be done to resolve the issue.

“This property isn’t in its heyday anymore, obviously,” she said. “Our challenge is to see what we are legally permitted to do on the property.”

Cartwright said they’ve contacted the prosecutor’s office and are in the process of determining if the owner is violating township zoning laws.

“We are proactively looking at avenues to take to get this fixed,” she said.

Trustee Tony Bettile said that he met with the property owner, who agreed to meet with neighbors and work on a resolution together.

Sharon Velasquez said she and other neighbors aren’t satisfied with that response.

“We don’t need to meet with the homeowner and do your job. You do your job,” she said.

Cartwright said the trustees hope to have some type of resolution by their next meeting Nov. 9.