Commission OKs zoning change for proposed club

6/13/2014

The Toledo Plan Commission has recommended a zoning change for part of the property on Airport Highway that a Toledo man is remodeling to open as a nightclub.

After hearing from residents of the South Toledo neighborhood opposed to zoning that would allow parking on the entire parcel, the commission voted 3-0 Thursday to accept the staff recommendation to have the entire building and about 35 feet behind it zoned for general commercial use.

Cornelius Henry, the owner of Proper Living Management LLC, had applied to have the zoning on the entire building and 1.43-acre parcel changed to general commercial. Currently, a portion of the two-story building and the parking lot behind it are zoned residential, with the remaining land zoned for commercial use.

However, Hen-ry’s attorney, Jo-seph Solomon, withdrew the request for commercial zoning on the back portion of the property at the start of the hearing.

Mr. Solomon told the commission that his client’s plan for the building has been a contentious issue with residents, but his proposal for a nightclub that would sell alcohol is consistent with surrounding businesses.

It’s also consistent with the property’‍s use in past years.

“Under those circumstances, Mr. Henry felt putting the nightclub in there and investing a lot of money to make it nice was a wise investment,” he said.

To address concerns about security and disturbances, the owner installed a 6-foot wood fence around the paved area that had been previously used as parking and equipped the property with interior and exterior surveillance cameras, Mr. Solomon said.

The attorney also told the commission that concerns of the Burrough Neighborhood Association that Henry’‍s plans for the building for adult entertainment are untrue.

The building and property, which extends into Danberry, Dana, Kenmore, and Ward streets, had been vacant for more than a year, requiring Henry to apply for zoning modifications.

Marcia Weisenburger, vice president of the neighborhood group, said residents are opposed to zoning changes that would allow a nightclub but are not against the building reopening for commercial use.

“We are not opposed to small businesses,” she said. “We do not want an unoccupied building.”

Carol Loth of Ward Street presented the commission with a petition containing signatures of about 300 residents who oppose zoning changes that would create a large parking area.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.