EPA issues permit for multi-million dollar project in Trumbull County
The Ohio EPA issued the final certification Tuesday for a multi-million dollar project in Howland Township.
HOWLAND TWP., Ohio - The Ohio EPA issued the final certification Tuesday for a multi-million dollar project in Howland Township.
In October of 2018, the Cafaro Company applied for the certification to move forward with the $367 million project for Enterprise Park, which includes a health care, educational and residential complex that would be located just north of the Eastwood Mall.
The company says it has the potential to create an estimated 2,200 jobs for residents, generate approximately $99 million of annual payroll taxes, $443,000 per year of state sales taxes and over $6 million per year of real estate taxes.
Joe Bell, Director of Corporate Communications for the Cafaro Company, said that the "project is vitally important to the economy of the Mahoning Valley and the welfare of its citizens."
"Members of the development team for Enterprise Park are delighted to know that state officials recognize that this project will be implemented in a thoughtful and environmentally responsible manner," Bell said.
According to the Cafaro Company, the project will be located on 100 undeveloped acres.
The actual area to be developed will involve around 50 acres.
The EPA said in a release Tuesday that the certification was needed as part of the application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would allow the discharge of dredged or fill material into streams and wetlands during the construction phase of the project.
Officials say discharges from the project will impact wetlands and streams within the Lower Mosquito Creek watershed.
According to the EPA, North Eastwood, LLC, the official name of the company leading the project, will preserve around 27 acres of forested Category 2 and 3 wetlands, more than 5,000 linear feet of streams on the site, and purchase stream and wetland mitigation credits in other areas.
Before issuing the permit, the EPA reviewed the company's application to make sure it would comply with federal and state standards, laws, and regulations.
The agency also held a public information session and hearing about the project in December 2018 at Howland High School.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still has to approve the project.
A Care2 petition was started to steer away the Ohio EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from giving the OK to Enterprise Park.
As of July 2, the petition had 518 signatures out of its goal of 1,000.
According to the petition, the land needs to be preserved because the wetlands help protect homes and lands from flooding, among other concerns.
The entire statement from Bell can be read below.
The issuance to Cafaro Company of a Section 401 water quality certification by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) is an important step forward in the process to create Enterprise Park. This project is vitally important to the economy of the Mahoning Valley and the welfare of its citizens. Members of the development team for Enterprise Park are delighted to know that state officials recognize that this project will be implemented in a thoughtful and environmentally responsible manner.
Enterprise Park will be located on part of 100 undeveloped acres in Howland Township, adjacent to the Eastwood Mall Complex. The actual area to be developed will encompass approximately 50 acres. As part of the mitigation plan for the project, the Cafaro organization donated more than 38 acres along the Mosquito Creek corridor (including 27 acres of Category 2 and 3 wetlands) as a conservation easement which Howland Township will control and maintain in perpetuity. Also, the Company will purchase a stipulated amount of wetland and stream credits as required by OEPA.
The development itself is expected to combine medical care, offices, educational facilities and residential space. The proposed centerpiece would be a state-of-the-art multi-story hospital building costing approximately $250 million. Mercy Health Youngstown and Akron Children’s Hospital have each submitted letters in support of Enterprise Park.
Nearby will be an assisted living and memory care facility, a college-level medical/education building, medical and professional office buildings and luxury residential apartments and/or condominiums. Discussions have occurred between Youngstown State University and Kent State University at Trumbull in order to collaboratively develop the educational facility, which would include health training programs such as counseling, physical therapy, pharmacy technology, dental hygiene, respiratory therapy and nursing. The Enterprise Park project promises to be an effective illustration of the whole exceeding the sum of its parts. When completed, this proposed $367 million dollar project has the potential to create an estimated 2,200 jobs for local residents, generate approximately $99 million of annual payroll taxes, $443,000 per year of state sales taxes and over $6 million per year of real estate taxes.
Cafaro Company will now be proceeding diligently to create Enterprise Park, but there are several additional steps that must be taken before breaking ground.
