550 citizens signed a petition gathered by a grassroots group urging the city of Youngstown to use authority to stop SOBE Thermal Energy Solutions from opening a waste-to-energy plant.

Citizens said they won't back down on questions concerning emissions from a site, that plans to super-heat materials into electricity and synthetic gas.

"There's a big concern," Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown said,  "I have a concern, not just as mayor, but as a citizen that I'm raising my family, my children and my grandchildren for the future."

On top of that, Brown said city zoning laws may need to be modified before permitting SOBE to operate its new technology.

That's because its North Avenue property is part of a "mixed-use community zone," established by the city over a decade ago.

This zone is intended for schools, restaurants, churches, and apartments, but not industrial use.

"We feel it's very dangerous, prone to explosion and fire and very polluting, not appropriate to be in our neighborhoods," Lynn Anderson, of "SOBE Concerned Citizens" group, said.

Brown said using steam heat is permitted since old operations were grandfathered in.

He said he shares the same worries regarding a super-heating technology that's new.

"Youngstown does not always have to be the first," Brown said, "I would say there is another place this can happen, and if the citizens say they don't want it, then I would say listen to the citizens and I listen to the citizens."

"SOBE Concerned Citizens" group is holding a community meeting on May 18th at 5 pm across from the former Youngstown Thermal building.