Car dealer requests change for expansion of business
8/14/2003The Vin Devers car dealership asked to rezone the parcel so that it can be used for a planned expansion of its business across the street at 5570 Monroe St.
According to the rezoning application, the dealership plans to use Monroe Street frontage that once was occupied by the Rentner Lumber Co. and combine it with the undeveloped land to form an “L” connecting with Skelly.
Residents of nearby Corey Meadows complained to the council that changing the residential zoning of the Skelly property will take away the quiet provided by the undeveloped acreage and intrude on the quality of their neighborhood.
The residents said that children have come to use the property as a park.
Charles Stupsker, an attorney for the residents, argued that if the land is rezoned, there will be commercial zoning to 750 feet south of Monroe Street, where the standard has been held to about 300 feet along Monroe from Whiteford to Corey roads.
Residents complained that they had not been notified of a June public hearing in front of the city's planning commission that recommended changing the zoning from residential to general business.
It will take five of the seven City Council members to vote for the rezoning for it to happen.
Jerome Parker, representing the dealership, told council members that the firm is willing to work with neighbors to make the transition as acceptable as possible.
He said that the dealership would fence the Skelly property and landscape the exterior of the fence.
Mr. Parker said that the kind and the color of fencing and the landscaping will be determined after meeting with neighbors to determining what they would prefer.
Care will be taken to keep noise to a minimum, and lights from the expanded Devers' operation will be directed away from the residential neighborhood, he said.
The council referred the issue to the zoning and annexation committee for further consideration.
Committee chairman Barbara Sears said she will be sure Mr. Stupsker is notified once a meeting is scheduled on the issue.
Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough told those in the audience that they are part of the community even though they are residents of the township and that their concerns will be considered.
Council president Keith Haddad said that if the city didn't want a fair resolution to the issue, “we'd have just voted for the rezoning, but I think something can be worked out for them.''