Kroger keeps coming back to the Toledo plan commission to rezone the Sisters of Notre Dame property and clear the way for it to build a superstore. And its strong-arming may be wearing down authorities who can help the project move forward. However, the plan commission has again rejected Kroger’s plan, which would destroy rare green space at the Secor Road and Monroe Street intersection, across from its current store.

The plan commission had already rejected rezoning 18 acres of the West Toledo site from single-family residential to regional commercial, and the body had previously offered suggestions that would better fit the city’s 20/​20 Comprehensive Plan. In light of that plan, the preferred use of the property would be less concrete- and traffic-intensive — for a small retirement village or medical offices, for example.

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In its latest finding, the plan commission recommended a least, or less, terrible approach than Kroger’s preferred one — that the company scale back its plan to just 10 acres. That showed a good impulse toward compromise, but it is the wrong compromise.

After all, a new and bigger store on the Sisters’ property would still increase traffic, threaten public safety, and destroy much-needed open and green space. And though store officials say its current store across the street would be marketed for reuse, what would happen, if Kroger gets its way, to the old store? 

It would be a part of a larger, continuous expanse of an already immense concrete jungle in that part of the city.

It’s unclear why the grocer won’t simply revamp and build up the present store, or purchase the neighboring appliance and furniture stores, or property near its gas station at the same intersection. There are already many vacant sites in that area, and one more building sitting empty is not what this city needs. Somebody at City Hall has to take the reins on this issue and craft a deal that works for everyone — for Toledoans’ safety and for handsome appearance and well being of the city as a whole. It’s not too much to ask.

First Published January 8, 2017, 5:00 a.m.