The idiom goes that there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

County planning officials hope that’s also the case where amending a planned development in Russell is concerned.

The subject area is the undeveloped infrastructure in and around the health facility complex along Route 62. Lictus Keystone, Inc. wishes to install a propane delivery substation there.

The issue is complicated by a zoning designation — planned development — that sharply limits development in that area.

The district was first created in 1971, revised in 1997 “to make it a race track which never came to fruition” and then in 2007 by Warren General Hospital.

That 2007 update limited development on four parcels in that area to a medical campus, education facility and senior independent and assisted living, much of which did not come to fruition.

The proposal before the Planning Commission this week would update the planned development to include a business zoning designation and the proposed development.

“The property remained vacant now because it has the restrictions on it,” Planning Director Michael Lyon said.

A more traditional rezoning request is concurrently underway.

That was because one of the property owners was “holding out” against amending the planned development, Lyon explained. “Because he was holding out, the route we had to go was rezoning.”

The rezoning will still be the subject of an Aug. 14 public hearing.

Lyon stressed that amending the planned development — rather than the rezoning — was the easier way to go.

The commission recommended approval of the amended planned development but required that the issue be reviewed by the county commissioners.