DaytonDailyNews.com

MIDDLETOWN — Middletown City Council's decision to rezone 157 acres to industrial use to facilitate the construction of a proposed $340 million coke-making and electric generation plant was described by Councilwoman Anita Scott Jones as "damned if you do and damned if you don't."

Just before midnight Tuesday, May 6, during a marathon meeting, the council voted 6-0 on an emergency ordinance to confirm a March planning commission decision to approve the rezoning. Councilman David Schiavone did not participate in the discussions or vote due to a conflict of interest because his brother Frank lives in Monroe adjacent to the land being rezoned.

Many of the opponents, while not against the project, felt the proposed coke plant should be located on AK Steel Corp.'s property. Opponents cited environmental, health, traffic and property devaluation concerns.

Following the meeting, Alan McCoy, AK Steel's vice president of government and public relations, said he thought both sides had ample opportunity to give comments. However, he said the bulk of the remarks would be more appropriate in a venue other than a public hearing for a rezoning.

"This is not just about 70 to 80 new manufacturing jobs at SunCoke, or 500 construction jobs, or even the 2,100 existing Middletown Works jobs," McCoy said. "It's about all those jobs ... and the thousands of those jobs they support in Middletown, Monroe and throughout Ohio and around the world."

Before the vote, 3rd Ward Councilman Tony Marconi said he wished the decision could go both ways, but "this body has an obligation to this city and its citizens."

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