Warren City Council approves subdivision, downtown mural and lease; tables midblock crosswalk after business outreach request

Warren City Council took a string of routine and substantive actions at its April meeting, approving land and public‑art requests, agreeing to a consultant for riverfront planning and postponing a proposed midblock crosswalk removal after members asked staff to check with downtown businesses.

Votes at a glance

- Calvary Baptist minor subdivision (parcel WN‑573‑859): approved unanimously; council recorded seven yes votes. - Mural rendering for 216 Pennsylvania Avenue West (Jets Property LLC; artist Sarah Aiola): approved unanimously with target completion before July 4. - Agreement for mural installation (city, Jets Property LLC, artist): approved unanimously after the council amended insurance language to require additional‑insured coverage while the mural project is being completed. - Parking lease (parcel WN‑5767882) with Zarko Giancola (and associated tenant arrangements): approved unanimously. - Riverfront master‑plan consultant (recommended Pashik/PLK; WCCBI committed $20,000; city share $19,330): approved unanimously. - Proposed ordinance to remove the midblock crosswalk on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue West: tabled for one month (motion carried 6–1) so staff can survey affected businesses and provide an aerial plan of proposed new metered spaces.

What council approved

Calvary Baptist Church’s minor subdivision request was presented as creating two lots — a 4.27‑acre lot containing the church and parking and a 2.22‑acre lot for the parsonage with a 35‑foot vehicular access easement — and was recommended for approval by the city planning commission and county planning staff. John Wagner represented the applicant; the council approved the resolution on unanimous roll call.

Council members also approved a mural application from Jets Property LLC to install a 40‑by‑44‑foot painted mural on a building wall at 216 Pennsylvania Avenue West. Artist Sarah Aiola requested that the full mural rendering not be publicly displayed before work begins; council members were given a private preview and approved the rendering. Council then reviewed and approved a three‑party agreement governing the mural. Discussion centered on site preparation funding, maintenance obligations if the property is sold and insurance/indemnity clauses; the council inserted a change that additional‑insured coverage be added to the artist/owner insurance while the mural is being applied rather than in perpetuity.

The council approved a proposed lease of a downtown city parking parcel to Zarko Giancola Composits Inc., and unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to hire a consultant to produce a master plan for the Allegheny Riverfront. The council discussed the selection process, public input and the consultant’s role in converting roughly 40 prior public suggestions into a small set of buildable renderings that will later be vetted by planning and parks commissions and returned to council. WCCBI agreed to contribute $20,000 toward the roughly $39,330 estimate; staff said the city would cover the remaining $19,330.

What council postponed

Council debated a staff proposal to remove a midblock crosswalk on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue West and convert the space to metered parking. The chief and staff argued the crosswalk reduces sight distance and is frequently misused for brief loading/unloading, creating a safety and liability concern. Several council members asked staff to survey merchants, confirm bus/drop‑off patterns, produce an aerial map showing exact new curb parking and check sight lines around a nearby driveway and hydrant. The council voted 6–1 to table the ordinance for one month to allow that follow‑up; Mr. Cashman opposed the tabling motion.

Next steps and context

Staff will return with an aerial plan showing the five to six parking spaces that are likely to be added, further outreach results from businesses in the block and clarification about any school‑bus or drop‑off activity. The mural project moves forward with the amended agreement; staff said private funding and foundation support will cover site‑preparation shortfalls and naming‑level gifts are under consideration for portions of the hospital campaign discussed earlier in the meeting. Council members asked staff to bring any non‑substantive contract edits back for solicitor review and to notify council if substantive changes are requested.