Kent City Council sustains planning commission decision on rezoning issue

Kent City Council sustained the planning commission’s decision to reject developer Grey Fox Capital’s request to rezone two parcels of land on Franklin Avenue from Industrial to R-3 High Density Residential at the council committee meeting Sept. 3.

The land is currently owned by Hometown Bank and borders the Erie Railroad tracks along Mogadore Road. The site in question consists of two parcels: 11.61 acres at 600 Franklin Ave. and 0.22 acres that borders the post office parking lot.

Grey Fox had requested the rezoning in order to remediate the environmental impacts on the site to allow for residential use and to construct a 102-unit, all-rental housing development. 

Grey Fox Acquisitions Director Jacob Shields brought up the potential for economic gain with the housing development, as it is within walking distance of downtown and could increase the amount of foot traffic in the downtown area. 

Shields also mentioned that, due to the land’s location and road access, it may be more suited to a residential development than an industrial one. The parcels have not been used since 1979, according to Shields. 

While the planning commission’s decision to maintain the original zoning was sustained, city council also made a motion to explore the possibility of overlay zoning. That would allow the area to be zoned as R-3 residential given it meets requirements set by the City of Kent. City council did not make an official decision on overlay zoning — only to explore the possibility with the planning commission at a later date.

Ward 1 Council Member Melissa Celko brought up concerns of the waste present in the area as well as the “stated goal of the federal government to eliminate the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency),” and how that may affect the environmental remediation process. 

“The funding [for remediation] would dry up, and then we as a community would be responsible for allowing housing to go in that location where it is dangerous for public health,” Celko said at the meeting. “While we need additional housing … we have an obligation to protect our community from what may happen.” 

Several citizens also raised concerns about the impacts of a residential development (plans for a residential development have not been approved). These concerns included construction noise, the waste present at the site, noise from the train tracks next to the parcel affecting quality of life and a potential development raising cost of living.