Canfield City Council conducted a first reading regarding changes to city ordinance 1141.15 covering the commercial zoning district during the Wednesday regular session.

The zoning ordinances cover all zoning within the city, including various types of residential, commercial, industrial and special zones for schools and libraries. Under the B3 Highway Commercial Zone are the commercial properties along East Main Street from CVS to Hillside Drive.

“The (recommended) changes are for more appropriate businesses within this district,” said city attorney Mark Fortunato.

During a Feb. 13 Planning and Zoning meeting, the committee approved recommending changes to the code.

Presently the code states that the law is being updated to list what can be built or operated in certain areas.

Allowed in the zoning districts are stores and service businesses, banks, restaurants without a drive-thru, office spaces for businesses or professionals, cafes and bars.

Needing special permission are gas stations, drive-thru restaurants, theaters, hotels and commercial recreation facilities.

The Planning and Zoning Committee wants to add the type of businesses that won’t be permitted within that zone.

Fortunato said the list includes car washes, inside storage facilities, commercial off-street parking and adult-oriented businesses.

A public hearing on the ordinance change is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. March 19.

Another agenda item from Wednesday was a motion authorizing the city manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District.

The agreement includes a donation to the MSWCD to help with staffing and programs.

“They are a support agency,” said Fortunato. “We rely on them for a lot of programs and services.”

He said the MSWCD provides technical assistance to the city, helps with education and information on stormwater and soil issues, assists with monitoring and inspecting, reviews development plans and plays a big role in the city’s stormwater management plan.

“They are a small agency with not a lot of staff, yet they do a lot,” Fortunato said.

Public Works Superintendent John Rapp added the MSWCD does detention pond inspections.

“They are well worth having on board,” he said.

The agreement called for a city appropriation of $5,000 to the district to assist in maintaining operations and staffing.

Rapp also gave a quick report on the salt situation in the city.

“Thankfully we built that new salt dome,” he said. “We are able to store up to 2,000 tons in it. Right now there are 600 to 700 tons left, which is enough for the rest of the year.”

Rapp added that a grant is being applied to replace the main water line from the storage tank near U.S. 224 to the fairgrounds. There have been several breaks in the line and it needs to be replaced.

Councilman Chuck Tieche said he believes the water line was installed in the early 1970s when the water tank was added.