LORAIN - Lorain and Sheffield are poised to share revenue from a joint economic development zone between the two communities.

“This is a prime example of regionalism,” Service Director Robert Gilchrist said after a May 23 public hearing on the zone by the City Council. “Not just talking about it, but actual action.”

If approved by Council, which is expected to vote on the zone in the next few weeks, Lorain would provide waste water services to businesses in a 45-acre region running north on Colorado Avenue on the east side. Sheffield would be responsible for all construction and maintenance of the sewer facilities in the village.

“Selling sanitary (sewer service) to the village is extremely profitable and it bears no cost on the city,” said Dan Kelly, a Lorain property owner and representative of KR Irish Ltd.,  the limited liability corporation formed by the anonymous business people interested in moving into the zone.

“All we’re trying to do is promote development, jointly (and) equitably between two communities, the village and the municipality.”

Both communities would equally share in any income tax revenue from new businesses that enter the zone during the 50-year agreement. Village users would never be charged more than Lorain users, according to the zone contract. Lorain would accept a maximum of 250,000 gallons of wastewater per day.

In response to a question from Councilman Dan Given, D-at-large, Gilchrist said city engineers have assured him the extra wastewater won’t overburden the system.

“Commercial (use) is a fraction of the usage that residential would be,” he said.

Debra Calabrese, who rents homes on Colorado Avenue, expressed support for the zone which she hopes will create jobs. “Some of my rental tenants would jump at the opportunity of jobs,” she said.

Contact Evan Goodenow at 329-7129 or egoodenow@chroniclet.com.

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