CANFIELD — Canfield City Council denied a request to rezone the property at 530 W. Main St. from B-2 business to M-1 manufacturing.

The change would have allowed for outside storage.

The request first came before council at the Dec. 6 meeting when property owner Ken Cerimele requested the outside storage. He said the front of 530 W. Main St. is a day care center while the rear of the property was set up for inside storage. The problem was the property is zoned as B-2 business, which allows for indoor storage, but not outside storage, which would include boats, RVs, trailers and some vehicles. Cerimele said at the December meeting that he had requests for such a service.

Cerimele made the request to the planning and zoning board to rezone the property to M-1 manufacturing, which would permit outside storage.

“Planning and zoning recommended not passing it,” said Councilman Bruce Neff, who serves on that board.

City attorney Mark Fortunato said as it stood that was the only way Cerimele could have been approved for the outdoor storage. He said if it were to pass, it would create spot zoning by putting an M-1 district in the center of a larger B-2 district.

“The other option is to change the B-2 District (requirements) to allow for outside storage,” Fortunato said.

Council President Christine Oliver wrapped up the discussion and called for a vote. Mayor Don Dragish, Mark Graham and Oliver voted “no” to the zone change request and Neff abstained from voting because Cerimele is a neighbor.

In other business, Public Works Superintendent John Rapp said the city has applied for and been awarded an Ohio EPA grant for $28,530 for a back-up generator at the Hilltop Water Tank. He said the generator has to be installed within six months and the Ohio EPA will inspect it and reimburse the city for the full amount.

In other business:

• Neff mentioned the AT&T property in back of Dairy Queen off the Village Green would make for a nice dog park. He said the city could offer to lease it for $1 per year and would have to make some fence repairs first, but the dog park would be close to the Village Green and available for a lot of dog walkers.

• Police Chief Chuck Colucci reported there were six crashes Tuesday morning around the high school. He recommended student drivers be given a little education on winter driving.

• Colucci also made mention of the city’s snow removal ordinances. He said pushing snow into the street is against local ordinances and those doing it could be fined. Rapp said it has been a problem around the Village Green with businesses doing it.

• Council voted 4-0 to approve an ordinance banning future wells within the city. The ordinance does not affect existing wells.

• Council approved the use of internet auctions to dispose of unneeded, obsolete or unfit personal property.