WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners on Wednesday approved vacating approximately 5,580 feet — slightly more than 1 mile — of Niles River Road, also known as Pine Avenue Extension, for the future Kimberly-Clark facility.

The section of road is between Burton Street to the north and Deforest Street to the south.

Mike McGiffin of Lake to River Economic Development told commissioners that the vacation of this area of Niles River Road from use by the general public has been known to be necessary for the long-term vision of Kimberly-Clark.

“Through the All Ohio Futures Fund in the Ohio Department of Development, the state awarded just over $17 million for the creation of a new road to accommodate the traffic once the Pine Avenue vacation should be successful,” McGiffin said.

Lyle Huffman of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber said the $800 million manufacturing facility paired with a proposed $160 million distribution center is one of the most significant private sector investments this region has seen in decades.

“The manufacturing plant alone will create approximately 500 permanent full-time jobs with an annual payroll of more than $49 million,” Huffman said. “The distribution center could add 65 additional jobs.”

However, the jobs do not stop at the plant’s gate, he said.

“They generate demand for suppliers, logistic providers, professional services and small businesses across the Valley,” Huffman said. “During construction, we’ve seen the impact with roughly 300 workers on site, with more on the way if the distribution center moves forward.”

He noted to the Joint Economic Development District — which includes officials from the county, Warren city, Howland and Warren townships — that nearly $1 million annually in income tax revenue will be generated.

J. Branch Sinkule, representing Kimberly-Clark, noted the manufacturing building is sealed up and weathertight.

“We recognize the operational traffic that will come a few years out, and current construction traffic is expected to have an impact,” Sinkule said.

The manufacturing facility will be approximately 1 million-square feet, and the proposed distribution facility will be about 500,000-square feet.

“We are taking a thoughtful approach to how we intend to route traffic into and out of the site and in the site itself,” he said. “Separating truck and employee traffic is vital. We intend for the private use of the segment of the road to ensure we have enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety in and out of the plant.”

He noted Kimberly-Clark purchased nearly 600 acres, including the BDM steel site and the greenfield site across Pine Avenue for a future megasite that could grow gradually over time.

“The only way for that to work is for us to be able to vacate that approximately 1-mile stretch that separates the two parcels,” he said. “We expect to build something on the greenfield property to the east.”

Trumbull County County Engineer David DeChristofaro stated that road use studies done by his office and others indicated that having the road vacated will only increase the amount of time drivers are moving through Warren, Niles and Howland by a few moments, depending on the direction that is taken.

“We are not talking about much of a delay,” DeChristofaro said.

He noted the $17 million being provided by the All Ohio Futures Fund will be used to improve the lanes. There was no opposition to the closure of the road.

Eddie Colbert, Warren’s city service director, said the city was fully supportive of the vacation of the road.

“This is a great opportunity for the entire region,” he said.

AKIVA ACADEMY ANNEXATION

Also Wednesday, commissioners approved the annexation of 1.193 acres from Liberty Township to the city of Youngstown to allow Akiva Academy to have its new school building in the Youngstown City School District.

Attorney Martha Bushey, representing Akiva Academy, told commissioners this action is not for the removal of property from Liberty into Youngstown, but simply an effort by the academy to have its new building, which is located on the Liberty side of Gypsy Lane, be part of the Youngstown district.

“The property tax still will be going to Liberty,” she said.

The property was donated to Akiva Academy by Alan Mirkin of Allen’s Pharmacy last year after it closed. The private school has transformed the former pharmacy into a middle school for students in grades 5 through 8.

Development of the new building at 520 Gypsy Lane was $1.9 million.

The school, which will be across the street from the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, 505 Gypsy Lane, also represents a significant expansion effort for the Akiva Academy because more space is needed to accompany increasing enrollment.

The new four-classroom middle school building was expected to have approximately 65 students when the expansion was announced.