Howland Township Trustees have approved a zoning change that would make a zoning change on a highly-traveled roadway in the township.

Howland Township Planning Director Kim Mascarella tells 21 News trustees approved a zoning change that would make zoning changes to State Route 46, otherwise known as Niles-Cortland Road.

As it stands, Niles-Cortland Road has three different commercial-type zoning districts. This zoning change will combine all those districts into one district known as a "Highway Commercial" district.

This zoning change will affect Route 46 going southbound from the SR-82 exit where work is being done on the Diverging Diamond project all the way up to the township line. A map is pictured below with the affected area in blue.

According to the Howland Township 2023 Comprehensive Plan, a "Highway Commercial" district allows for "large-scaled, auto-oriented commercial, retail and office uses," and encompasses areas along major corridors adjacent to highway interchanges.

Mascarella tells 21 News this zoning change will allow for easier development for properties on the east side of the roadway, which are smaller and more narrow.

Mascarella further explained that these changes reduce building and parking setbacks.

Building setbacks refer to the minimum distance a structure must be from a property line, and parking setbacks refer to the minimum distance between a parking area and the right of way line on a public street.

Mascarella added that updated buffer standards would also come with this change, meaning new commercial development would need to put up a fence and vegetation to separate itself from residential properties to mitigate issues like noise and visual impacts.

This zoning change will not make any changes to traffic or existing businesses along the corridor.