SHEFFIELD — Property along Abbe Road was once again rezoned for a future condominium complex despite previous efforts to stop it, which included a ballot issue that has since been nullified.
The village Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of rezoning the land Wednesday, the second time this year it has granted such an approval.
Council approved in March the rezoning of 60 acres along Abbe Road near Interstate 90 from industrial to residential and multifamily for a condominium complex proposed by Camco Properties LLC.
Those plans came under scrutiny from resident Mike Gorka, who owns land adjacent to the proposed project, and numerous other residents, who cited safety concerns since the plans originally called for a single entrance for the complex on Abbe Road.
Residents had also questioned whether rezoning the land to multifamily might eventually lead to low-income housing coming to the area.
The residents gathered signatures for an issue that was set to appear on the November ballot, but Camco Properties pulled its plans, Council rescinded its previous rezoning approval, and the Lorain County Board of Elections removed the issue from the ballot earlier this month.
After that process, Patrick Shenigo, who is on the Erie County Board of Commissioners and is the name behind Camco Properties, resubmitted plans to the village, bringing the rezoning issue back to square one this week.
Shenigo said the amended plans now include a secondary entrance on French Creek Road and a right-turn only entrance on Abbe Road.
On Thursday, he described the project as one-story condominiums catered toward upscale clientele with units for sale or renting for around $1,600 a month.
Shenigo said the condominiums won’t be marketed toward low-income residents, which was never the intent.
“We certainly hope we have addressed any concerns with these new plans, and we look forward to building another quality project in Sheffield,” he said.
When asked whether residents should have been given the chance to vote on the rezoning issue, Mayor John Hunter said people are more than welcome to take the necessary steps again to gather signatures and place the issue on the ballot next year.
“They have a right under the law to do whatever they want to, but maybe it won’t even get that far,” Hunter said. “People just need to know the facts. Don’t vote on what you read on a leaflet that’s unsigned.”
Village Council must still approve rezoning of the land after public hearings and three ordinance readings. After that, Shenigo must submit plans for approval before both the Planning Commission and Village Council.
Shenigo and Hunter said housing is a better option for the vacant property because under its previous industrial zoning it could have housed a warehouse or foundry.
“You could have had 200 semi trucks sitting there idling waiting to go under its previous industrial zone,” Shenigo said.
Gorka was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior obligation, but he told Village Council on Monday that it’s now Council and the mayor’s responsibility to place the issue back on the ballot in March to let the Sheffield residents decide whether the land
should be rezoned.
“I don’t think it’s fair for us to have to go petition again, and I think you know where the residents stand,” he said.
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