MOUNT VERNON—The Mount Vernon Municipal Planning Commission tabled a request to rezone four parcels on South Main Street. The parcels, which total .75 acres, are on the southeast corner of South Main and Parrot streets.
Owner Joe Updike wants to change the zoning from R-1A to R-4 to accommodate multi-family apartment units. R-4 is a new district under the updated zoning code. It allows single-, double-, triple-, quad-units and above in a single structure.
Updike said he did not have a plan for the proposed units as he awaited a decision from the MPC. Residents would access the apartments either from Parrot Street or Adamson Street.
Neighbors noted concerns about accessing the apartments, the number of units, traffic, and whether they would be low-income or government-subsidized. Neighbor Samantha Scoles said the area includes more than 100 R-1 (single-family) properties.
“Spot zoning to R-4 changes the character of the neighborhood,” she said.
Adamson Street resident John Staggers said he bought his home to escape apartments and is concerned about lowered property values.
Additionally, his driveway comes off an alley along the east side of the parcels, and he is concerned about it being blocked.
Updike said he understands the concerns but feels the complex is not large enough for traffic to get out of hand. He also noted it provides a good transition from the surrounding General Business, M-1, Office-Industrial, and Neighborhood Commercial parcels.
MPC member Austin Swallow said the updated code addresses spot zoning. However, he was concerned about deciding without a site plan.
Safety-service Director and MPC member Tanner Salyers said he does not believe R-4 is appropriate zoning for that location due to the logistics of egress.
The commission tabled the request until its next meeting and requested Updike create a visual site plan.
114 E. Gambier St.
Dave and Stephenie Maggert requested a conditional use permit to operate an Afterglow Life Services and Recovery Network at 114 E. Gambier St.
Afterglow is a Christian ministry that provides support and encouragement during difficult times, including but not limited to, addiction recovery. The ministry outgrew the space available at the couple’s church.
The Maggerts believe it’s a good location for their ministry because it’s close to downtown, and clients can walk to the home. Additionally, it is near other support services, making collaborating with other agencies easy.
The parcel is zoned commercial, but a ministry like Afterglow requires conditional use. The Maggerts plan to buy the property and operate their ministry on the first floor, continuing to rent out the second floor.
Activities include counseling, a Sunday dinner, picnic tables in the back of the house, and other fellowship activities. Stephenie Maggert said the couple would be thoughtful about designating a smoking area.
The Maggerts will provide services morning through early evening and encourage clients to park in public spaces.
There were no engineering or legal counsel concerns, and the city received no communications about the conditional use.
The MPC members granted the conditional use.
Liberty Crossing
Highland Real Estate requested variances from its initial plan submitted for the Liberty Crossing subdivision on Ohio 13 south of the city (Newark Road).
Scott Mallory, of HRE, said now that HRE has completed the final engineering, the company is requesting changes related to the shared-use path.
Since Mount Vernon City Council approved the preliminary plan in March 2023, Owl Creek Conservancy has been working on a connectivity plan. HRE removed the shared-use path from the wetlands area and realigned it to connect with the conservancy’s future path.
Additionally, HRE added a shared-use path along the west side of Route 13.
HRE adjusted the layout of the townhomes to accommodate public roads with platted lots. Additional adjustments were made to the patio and single-family home lot lines.
Mallory said HRE did not modify the number or density of the units.
In an email to the city, Newark Road resident Bob Everett said the city should pause further action on the development. He cited concerns about the city’s wastewater capacity and called for an independent engineering analysis and an audit of leadership personnel.
City Engineer Brian Ball said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regularly inspects the wastewater treatment plant, which has sufficient capacity. He acknowledged crews are working on infiltration issues with the lines.
Ball said the changes reduce the environmental impact on the wetlands, and the Shade Tree and Beautification Commission has no requirements.
There are no legal concerns with the requested changes.
The planning commission approved the changes. (Below is a list of HRE’s requested amendments.)
306 Compromise St.
Jennifer Hardwick requested a conditional use to operate a massage therapy business in her home at 306 Compromise St.
There were no engineering or legal counsel concerns, and the city received no communications about the conditional use. The MPC approved Hardwick’s request.
