WARREN — Officials in Warren unveiled a comprehensive industrial development plan showing their plans to capitalize on recent manufacturing wins like the Kimberly-Clark facility and West Warren industrial site by assembling new land parcels and upgrading infrastructure.

The $150,000 federally funded blueprint, presented to the Strategy & Economic Development Committee, identifies more than 260 acres for potential expansion in the city’s Westlawn area, signaling a push to attract smaller-scale industries amid rising developer interest.

Officials say the blueprint positions Warren to meet demand for 60-acre-or-smaller sites from site selectors, potentially adding hundreds of jobs. With West Warren’s first building complete and another 50 acres eyed, Warren Community Development Director Michael Keys warned of the need to act swiftly stating, “The future is already here, and we need to get ahead.”

The plan, dubbed the Industrial Development Action Plan, was crafted by MS Consultants in partnership with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Trumbull County engineers and city officials. Funded through an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant — with Eastgate covering the $75,000 match — it builds on Warren’s manufacturing strengths, including access to state Route 82, available utilities and a skilled workforce.

Keys introduced the document, emphasizing its role in prioritizing projects similar to the successful Golden Triangle initiative from a decade ago.

“This is a plan very similar to what we did for the Golden Triangle,” Keys said. “We prioritized projects and knocked them off. Now, we’re already moving faster than we thought — Westlawn is almost full with inquiries.”

At the heart of the plan are two proposed sites. Site 1, the Westlawn Industrial Development Site adjacent to the thriving West Warren area, spans more than 260 acres of largely vacant land.

Originally platted for residential use, the area boasts a 95% vacancy rate, with 50% of parcels tax-delinquent and 10% publicly owned. Consultants recommend land assembly through coordination with land banks, rezoning from residential to industrial and environmental assessments, including wetland delineations estimated at 7 acres — just 3% of the developable land.

Site 2, near the Kimberly-Clark plant and aligned with a planned state Route 45 extension, offers additional opportunities outside city limits but tied to Warren’s infrastructure needs. The extension, fully funded at $17 million by the state, will connect Lordstown to Route 45, easing truck access and opening land near the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Key recommendations focus on infrastructure to support freight and workforce connectivity. The plan calls for expanding local truck routes, upgrading Martin Luther King Boulevard with widening and repaving, and rehabilitating rail lines with high-level cost estimates from sub-consultant Site Logics. Utility upgrades, including potential sewer lines, pump stations and natural gas extensions, are highlighted as critical, with consultants noting adequate current capacity, but urging extensions for future demand.

A contentious proposal involves reconfiguring West Market Street from four lanes to three, creating space for an 8-foot sidewalk, a buffered bike lane and improved truck turning radii.

Katie Phillips, a representative from MS Consultants, defended the “road diet” as a way to enhance safety, attract younger residents and boost corridor beautification. She cited traffic counts of 5,000 to 9,000 vehicles daily below levels justifying four lanes, even with projected growth from new sites.

“When you reduce lanes, you create room for amenities,” Phillips said. “It slows traffic, increases pedestrian safety and attracts development. We’ve seen studies back this up.”

Committee members raised concerns.

City Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert questioned whether the change suits industrial ambitions, while Helen Rucker, D-at Large, discussed truck turning issues on narrow side streets like Nevada.

Keys acknowledged the ideas as preliminary, stressing a forward-looking approach: “We’re looking at neighborhoods with increasing population, making it pedestrian- and bike-friendly for the next generation.”

Other takeaways include an analysis for stakeholder input, identifying strengths like utility capacity and threats like high infrastructure costs and public perception of vacant corridors.

The presentation suggested recommendations for shared-use paths connecting Kimberly-Clark workers to downtown Warren for economic spillover, public transit expansions and adopting industrial design guidelines to ensure aesthetic consistency, such as landscaping and green spaces.

Funding strategies outline grants, partnerships with utilities and joint applications with the county.

Keys noted the plan’s utility in securing state and federal aid, with immediate priorities including land acquisition and utility assessments.

Ron White, D-7th Ward, praised the recommendations as beautification tools but added, “A lot of citizens don’t ride bikes or walk there yet, but we’re trying to make the city look good for people coming in.”