Hermitage rezoning request to build 10 duplexes for seniors voted down

Apr. 24—HERMITAGE — A proposed zoning change was defeated in a 2-3 vote Wednesday by the Hermitage Board of Commissioners, although there could still be a housing development in the neighborhood's future.

The change, which was introduced by the Hermitage commissioners in March, would have rezoned about 13.7 acres at 228 Trumpet Terrace from Suburban Residential 1 to Suburban Residential 2.

The rezoning was requested by property owner Joseph Mazzant, who planned to build about 10 duplexes divided into 20 homes on the property.

The property includes 13.7 acres south and adjacent to Hemlock Road and Androla Drive.

The rezoning ultimately failed, with board President Duane Piccirilli, Vice President William Moder and Commissioner Louis Squatrito voting against, and commissioners Cameron Linton and John Moroco voting in favor.

The board's vote came after multiple residents from the surrounding neighborhoods shared their concerns with the proposed development at last week's board work session and Wednesday's meeting.

Jennifer Winchester was among the residents who spoke prior to the board's vote Wednesday. She shared concerns including the narrowness of Androla Drive and the sewage and water lines to the property that would need to be laid through the neighbors' properties.

Winchester said she was also concerned with Jeff Osborne being on tax records for the property, along with Osborne being a city employee.

During the prior work session, Mazzant said he and Osborne flip houses and he wasn't sure how Osborne's name ended up on tax records for the property.

Stormwater was another common issue, with resident Ted Nogay saying he was concerned with the development's potential to worsen the existing water issues in the area.

The commissioners also shared their thoughts and concerns before voting on the rezoning.

Squatrito said he appreciated Mazzant and his son Anthony coming before the board and sharing drawings with the commissioners, but said he would have preferred to see a land development plan before approving the rezoning.

Squatrito also asked a few further questions regarding the development, such as whether an access road to Mazzant's home on the southern end of the property would be used for traffic. Mazzant said he would install a gate on the road.

Linton said he would vote to approve the plan due to the city's 2030 Comprehensive Plan — which provides a guide toward future development — recommending more housing.

Linton said the stormwater requirements for the proposed residential development were more strict than for regular houses.

Population trends were another concern, since many Rust Belt communities have lost residents over the years while other surrounding municipalities had much higher property tax rates due to a lack of property to expand into or develop, Linton said.

Moroco said he planned to vote "yes" since the main concern he heard from many residents involved stormwater on the property.

If the plan were approved, Mazzant would still be required to provide a comprehensive stormwater management plan as part of his land development plan, Moroco said.

Moder said he planned to vote against the rezoning since, while a land development plan would need to be followed, a rezoning would not require Mazzant to adhere to the plan presented to the commissioners before the vote.

Several uses were possible under SR2 besides residential development that could affect residents living to the west, Moder said.

"There's 13.7 acres. That's a lot of land and a lot of uses, and none of them are binding on this rezoning," Moder said.

Moder also said that rezoning that specific property to SR2 was never discussed during the development of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, despite many other properties being rezoned to SR2.

Piccirilli said that, regardless of whether the rezoning passed or failed, he hoped that the public understood the commissioners had "done their homework" on the issue, from visiting the property to meeting with neighbors, to try and make the best decision for the city.

Piccirilli added that he didn't want to vote "for housing for the sake of housing," and that the city did need housing, but housing for young families, whereas Mazzant previously said his planned development would have catered toward senior citizens.

"I'm not sure we need more apartments, especially when there's parts of the city that are zoned appropriately for that use," Piccirilli said.

Following the board's vote, Mazzant said he was not offended by any of the "no" votes by the commissioners, and said that, aside from the development on his property, the city was going to continue to grow and be developed into the future.

While specifics were not yet available, Mazzant said he still planned to move forward with developing housing on the property within the confines of SR1.

That development will still include the necessary requirements such as plans for managing stormwater, although those requirements are much looser under SR1 than what would have been required for the proposed development under SR2, Mazzant said.

"It's going to be much easier," he said.

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