The zoning designation applies to development projects in various commercial\/residential zoning districts along the city’s waterfront, to make sure they align with planning, environmental and public access standards previously set by the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zoning explained: What waterfront conditional use status means in Erie, Pa.<\/a><\/p>\n Three local companies are part of Nine Ships: Modular Engineering,<\/a> 1802 Cranberry St., which manufactures various types of modular structures; M-E Construction,<\/a> which shares the same Cranberry Street address; and Corporate Glass,<\/a> 5604 West Ridge Road, a commercial\/residential glass installation company.<\/p>\n The three combined companies are all seeking additional space to operate and would lease their new factory\/headquarters from the Erie County Redevelopment Authority<\/a>, which owns the property.<\/p>\n Nine Ships expects that the project could mean an additional 80 employees at the three companies.<\/p>\n Plans for the project were presented to City Council by two representatives of Porter Consulting Engineers, P.C.<\/a>, Jake Yatsko, a project engineer; and Ashley Porter, the company\u2019s senior engineer\/project manager.\u00a0<\/p>\n The manufacturing facility would be located on 23 acres at the western edge of the former International Paper site. New trees and landscaping would provide an additional buffer between the facility and residential neighborhoods.<\/p>\n Jeff Johnson, a Hess Avenue resident, told City Council he had questions about increased traffic on East Lake Road. “I don’t know if any traffic studies are involved or anything like that,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n Erie resident Freda Tepfer, who frequently attends City Council meetings, said she would “like to see some effort to minimize the amount of clearing” of trees\/shrubbery in the neighborhood because there is “ample wildlife” in the area.<\/p>\n What’s next<\/p>\n City Council must approve the waterfront conditional use designation before the project can move forward. That could happen as soon as council’s next regular meeting on Sept. 2.<\/p>\n The city’s Planning Commission and Design Review Committee have both recommended that council approve the Nine Ships project, said Cooper Moore, an assistant planner with the city of Erie. <\/p>\n Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie firm’s manufacturing plan at IP site pitched to City Council<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cfc47962-da40-4b42-a1d3-f3b4e34c4bdd.jpeg\"\/)
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