Warren City Council votes down Howland Township storage unit annexation

According to a legislation summary from the Warren City Council, an ordinance that would have allowed a property in Howland Township to annex to Warren has been voted down.

The property is a storage unit site owned by Extra Space Storage, located at 3942 Youngstown Road in Howland.

According to City Council records, the ordinance failed with five members voting no and four members voting yes.

21 News reached out to several Warren City Council members who voted no on the ordinance.

According to Sixth Ward Councilwoman Honeya Price, she voted "no" on the ordinance because she didn't feel it would be a fair exchange if Warren annexed the property located in Howland Township. 

According to Price, if Warren were to annex the property, Howland Township would continue to receive the property taxes from the business. 

Additionally, Price says that although Warren would receive income taxes from the business, this would be calculated from the employee salary of the one employee at the location.

Price says that if Warren were to annex the property, they would have had to provide services to the business that a city is responsible for, such as police, fire, water and other services.

According to Fourth Ward Councilman James Shaffer, he voted "yes" on the ordinance because he felt it would make sense for the city.

According to Shaffer, Warren would have received income taxes from the employee working at the business in the amount of 2.5%.

Additionally, Shaffer indicates that the property already sits in the area of Warren where city services are available.

Shaffer says that it would make sense to incorporate the property into the surrounding area where services are available.

21 News has reached out to the Warren Engineering, Planning and Building Department for more information on the property.

Related Coverage

Commissioners to hear petition to annex Howland storage unit into Warren

Download the WFMJ app for your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet to get our push alerts as news happens.