VIENNA — Township trustees approved rezoning parcels of land at the end of a road from commercial to residential and farm land at their second monthly meeting Monday.

Trustee Phil Pegg explained to residents that he spoke to Zoning Inspector Mark Posey about the properties at the end of Youngstown Kingsville Road, north of Commercial 2 land on state Route 193, which were sent to the Trumbull County Planning Commission.

Pegg said the planning commission rejected any changes because it wasn’t in compliance with the Youngstown Air Reserve Station’s joint land use study and the 10 to 15 properties in the area were owned by different township residents. He added that in the way it was currently sitting, residents were “restricted in their building there.”

Pegg said that the bigger problem is the land was set up as Commercial 3 land years before plans for zoning designation changes came up. C-3 land is designated to “encourage the establishment of areas for general business uses to meet the needs of a regional market area” and includes facilities such as assembly halls and bars, according to the township’s 2020 Zoning Resolution document.

“There have been residents there that have tried for loans; can’t get them,” Pegg said. “The banks won’t loan them the money (to build houses) because it is zoned C-3 for us. It’s commercial, not residential.”

Pegg said the owners of the few lots left will have to stay compliant with FAA rules, but doubts anyone will try building a house higher than 199 feet.

With the zoning change in play, Pegg explained residents in those formerly C-3 areas will be able to obtain loans, which will lead to more housing development.

In other action, trustees:

•   Set a solar energy wording meeting for 5:30 p.m. Nov 4 prior to their regular meeting. The meeting, required by law, will allow the township to decide whether they want solar panels there.

•   Approved purchasing a salt spreader for one of their trucks, costing $10,775. Pegg explained the salt spreaders on both of the township’s trucks are “shot” and purchasing it for their largest truck will allow them to get salt on the ground this winter.

•   Approved purchasing a 32 by 40 foot fabric dome cover from 83 Construction at a cost of $11,563 for the township’s salt supply. Trustee Mike Haddle explained the cover is ripped and it needs to be replaced.