New use sought for Dorr St. land
3/21/2002Nearly 100 acres of undeveloped land near the University of Toledo would be designated for offices, research parks, and single-family housing under an amended land-use plan approved by a Toledo City Council committee.
The action was a victory for neighborhood groups around Dorr Street and Richards Road which have opposed any rezoning of land for University of Toledo student housing. The zoning and planning committee removed multifamily housing as a desired use for the property during a meeting yesterday. The full council is expected to decide the long-studied land-use plan at its meeting Tuesday.
Dan Dawson, president of the United Neighborhood Residential Association, said the land-use plan may help stave off new student-centered housing and commercial development. “This has been a long struggle,” said Mr. Dawson, who lives in Inverness Village. He said bars, carryouts, and video stores are “the kind of businesses that follow students.”
It was a disappointment to the Bettinger family, which owns six acres on the north side of Dorr. The family has been negotiating with a developer to construct student apartments where an old greenhouse stands. “What we've planned here, the university would have control over,” said Marvin Robon, an attorney for the Bettinger family. He said the land still has a lot of value for office or research park construction.
Mr. Robon said the university is interested in the land along Dorr all the way to Richards because it is the only undeveloped land around the university.
William Decatur, vice president for finance and administration at UT, said the university has made no offers or any formal plan for the property. The university did not take a position on the land-use issue.
Mr. Decatur said the university is planning another residence hall on its campus. He said the university is considering acquiring the former College Station, now called Country Creek Apartments, on Dorr west of Byrne Road. Also yesterday, the committee: